My Idols and Role Models

I just feel the need to list the people that I love so much! Their originality, generosity, drive, and... well, I can't think of anything else. But these are the people that made the list!

My mom! WOOOOO!

My grandma! WOOOOOO!

Michelle Obama

Amanda Diva

Tyanna Taylor

Mo 'Nique

Curly Nikki

Tyra Banks

Oprah Winfrey

Wendy Williams (How you doin???)



No, this isn't it! There are more. Just not for right now.

OMG

Yaaaay! I just did my first hairstyle this weekend! I tried the frohawk as promised. I can't believe my hair is already long enough to do a style. I did it as soon as we got back to the hotel. I cowashed in the shower. I think I'm gonna start detangling in sections under the water now. I used HEHH as my cowash and LI. After I put 3 twists(not 2 strand... I mean cornrow-like twists) on each side of my head, I [attempted to] two strand twisted the rest and put clips on the roots to keep them from unraveling (thanks CurlyNikki!). I sealed my ends with my shea butter that I found(I need to get some more... mine is too yellow for my tastes...) I was to sleepy (and it was too late) to roll up the ends with the straws;I don't know if my hair is long enough for that anyway. LOL, my head looked like I had little doo-doo knots in it! But the result the next morning was... FABO! I got so many compliments! This topped the day that I got two compliments at once b/c of my nails!
I wore it again today. Yep, second-day hair! I had a few haters. there were only 3 people that had something negative to say. I already knew these 3 would.

Nothing else to say for the time being. I gotta get home so I can catch Lincoln Heights!

Rae

Almost 3 months!

It's almost my hair's tri-month anniversary of being natural!!!! Wow, it feels like it's been forever! We will be celebrating our anniversary at the practice football field behind the track sweating with the band. What fun... After this Wednesday, after school practices are over with. (Yay!) And this weekend will be our last competition. Tear... I can't believe that after this weekend it's gonna be it for the show... And the seniors... Next year will be my year.

I actually believe I may have enough hair to try a twist and curl! Unfortunately I have no rollers. But I do have straws! So I'll use those. NO not now. I'll wait until either this Saturday or when I come home Sunday.

Okay, I have to rave about my new love. Yes, world, I am in love... with a new deep condish! Well, it's not really new. I've just fallen in love with HSR and HEHH! I think it was meant for the four of us to be together. Whenever I DT with these two, my hair feels so soft and fluffy! But I'm in PM(panic mode) now, b/c I'm almost out of both. I can re-up on HEHH, but not HSR. There isn't a vitamin shoppe here! And I don't have a card to order any! But don't worry. Rae will think of something...

There was a fight at my school the other day. It's kinda sad... both of the girls are younger than me fighting over a guy that's about to graduate. And the girl that won just came back to school from having a baby weeks ago. Today, I saw the guy just posted up on the lockers like it wasn't nothing. Yes, I'm shaking my head right now...

Well, I don't really have much else to say right now.... So I guess I'll be out.

Rae

P.S.- I can't believe I forgot to put this above! I have a prob. Well, as you know, I cowash/wet my hair every morning to get rid of the MM(morning mat). I baggy sometimes too. But I have to baggy my whole head since I'm rocking a TWA right now. All of this is going well, except one thing: it's starting to get really cold down here in Mississippi. So any suggestions to keep me from getting brain freeze are GREATLY appreciated!

The Big One-Eight

Ok... here goes.... WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooOoOoOooooOOOOOOOOooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Now that I got that out of my system...

I have been natural for over two months!!!! My hair is finally showing signs of growth! And I'm turning 18 this month!!!!! The day before Halloween! The only bad thing is that my birthday is on a Friday and I'm gonna have to go to a football game.
We went to an out-of-state competition in band this weekend. We came in second by, like, .04 (four-hundreths of a point)! That is going to eat away at me... But at least I finally got another purse. It is SOOOO cute! It's a reddish looking color that fades into a sorta sea-green color in spots! It's shiny and it looks like some sorta snake skin or something. It ain't real snake-skin(or it would've been more than $35). I wouldn't have bought it then. I also got a cute yellow jacket from Pink (by VS), and a shirt that would've been over $30 if I hadn't joined their club. So the shirt was just $5. It's got little diamonds in it. Now I need to get me some jeans and shoes to wear with it.
I think sealing is here to stay. My hair feels so much softer when I seal! Sometimes I'll be in class and just find myself pulling at some of my curls in my twa just so they can spring back down. Am I the only one that does that???
I threw out my cantu. I just can't deal with the flakes. So not sexxii! My protein is just going to have to be ORS Replenishing condish....

I don't really have much to write about right now... So I guess I'll go. Bye!

Sigh...

I think I'm in the stage where I feel like my hair isn't doing anything right now.... Not growing, not doing horribly, just nothing.... I'm getting impatient. I want it to GROOOW!!!! It's so frustrating! *BIG LOUD SCREAM HERE*


Oh. Wait. I forgot something...
Happy anniversary hair!!!!
There we go!


The only way it seems I can tell my hair has grown is b/c the shallow spots are now filled in. Wow, it seems like it's been forever.

Products I Like
HE Hello Hydration
Aussie Moist
AO Honeysuckle Rose
ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner
V05 Moisture Milks Condish (strawberries and creme)
Pantene Brunette Expressions

I haven't really developed a routine yet. I just either cowash or condition daily. Usually in the morning b/c of the Morning Mat. But here's how I use everything:

• HEHH- cowash, LI
• AM-cowash, LI
• AOHSR- DC, LI
• ORS- Protein
• V05- cowash
• PBE- cowash, LI
• Giovanni SaS mixed w/ Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In- Protein

Whenever I use the Giovanni/Cantu, I always follow up with V05 b/c of the flakes Cantu leaves behind...

This stupid guy at school named "Mark" has given me an annoying nick name- "afro"

Gosh... I'm so tired of high school. I'm ready for college where I can be around mature people.

Well... a bientot!

Comme ci comme ce...(so so...)

Wow, I've almost been NaPpTuRaL for a whole month! I think my hair has grown a little bit. It was a teeny tiny bit shorter when I cut it and after Momma shaped it up for me. Some of the shallower spots don't feel as shallow anymore. I could twist some of my hair if I wanted, but for some odd reason, I just want to wait until it gets longer.

My mom said if I let it grow back out, I am going to go through stages. I'm already trying to prepare for this, b/c I'm already starting to see the beginnings of a stage. I used to watch my little brother go through these awkward stages when he thought he wanted to grow his hair out and get braids.

And now it's time to post some more natural hair pictures for inspiration. Just b/c I'm fully natural now doesn't mean I no longer need motivation... I'm gonna need it badly now since I'm growing out...

Amanda Diva

Other Beautiful Women

(my hair is a little shorter than this right now)

Here comes my absolute most fave natural pic I've ever seen. I aspire to have hair just like this!!!!

WOOOoooOOOO

I'm back from the shadows!!!! MUHaHaHaHaaaaa!!!!! Okay, time for me to stop talking crazy...
The library had started closing at 330. I don't get out of school 'til then, so... yea, no internet for me!
The first day of school was very funny. I got a lot of shocked reactions the first few days. One of my friends is making it clear that she does NOT like it. Everytime we pass each other, she hollers out 'Baldy!' I don't even call attention to it. I am far from bald.
I tried baggying to get rid of the 'Morning Mat', but I'm too lazy for that, so I just do morning wash n' goes. I don't too much mess with the proteins that much anymore... they make my hair too hard. I only use proteins once in a while (as long as I'm rinsing them out). Especially ORSRP for DT's. So yea... my hair and Giovanni had a not-so-painful break-up. He's just a 'hit-it-and-quit-it' now, lol (as is Cantu Shea LI. I couldn't deal with the hardness AND the white flakes. SO not attractive)! So the two condishes I alternate as LI's are Aussie Moist and HEHH. I use Suave Moisture milks just to wash out. And when I shampoo once a week, I use J&J No More Tangles Shampoo+Conditioner for curly hair.

I also just (now a few minutes ago) finally ordered some AOHSR! Yaaay! I've heard so many good reviews on this that I can't wait to try it myself!

The bad stuff: The work schedule is WACK. Last week, I only got 3 HOURS! 3! I was supposed to work from 1-5 sat. and 2-5 sun. I got sent home around 3 on both days! And I only have 5 hours scheduled for this week. Mickey D's just isn't doing it for me... Yea, I've asked for more hours before. But there really isn't any point in asking for more now, especially b/c I'm in band and in school. But there are people in school with me that get way more hours than I get... So yea, still looking for a new gig in the work world...
I think the week that just passed has been PMS week. I've been depressed and everything else all last week. But that's over now!


And before I go, I have to tell you that I'm planning on writing a letter to my superintendent. I think that our school should have a dance/step team. Wouldn't that be a great idea??? I already have plenty of reasons. But a few more ideas (and tips on how to write it) from you would be great!

Products/Brands I'd Like To Try

1. Mixed Chicks Deep Condish
2. Miss Jessie's
3. Carol's Daughter
4. Quemet Biologics
5. Max Green Alchemy
6. Jamila Henna (BAQ)
7. Karen's Body Beautiful
8. Curls
9. Oyin

I'll post more as I think of them. I posted products that I know I won't find around here.

The "Almost" Big Reveal

Yesterday I finally went to band not wearing a scarf on my head (they weren't satin/silk anyway...). Everyone was shocked. And still shocked. It's funny seeing people's reactions to my hair! Lol. I got all sorts of comments, positive and negative. I call this the "Almost" b/c everyone hasn't seen me yet. The "Big Reveal" will be when school starts back next Thursday!

I'm finally starting to get past the "OMGICMH" stage, and am leaning toward the "Comfortable/Curious" stage. I say comfortable because for all I can remember in my life, I have been relaxed. And I was very uncomfortable. If I could choose to have long, straight, relaxed hair and short, curly, natural hair, I'd choose natural. I'm from the South, and where I stay, I've never seen a natural sista in person. Ever. No, natural weaves don't count! But anyways, I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable in my own skin and with myself. And that's where self confidence starts, isn't it???

I say curious, because now I have to look at all new stuff whenever I go to the store. I went in Walgreens the other day, and it felt so different looking at all the stuff for curly hair instead of the stuff for straight hair. I used to just glance at that stuff, but now I actually look at it to see if I'd try it or not. I'm kinda afraid that this "newly natural" thing is gonna start a product junkie phase that's out of this world...

My dad is "thinking about getting me a celly." When he told me that, I was happy, but in the back of my mind was, "Why do you have to 'think' about it??? I'm a good kid." I really am. Oh yeah! I showed the other half of my fam my hair this weekend. When my dad saw it, he kept grabbing at my head and ruffling it like I was some little boy or something. It was really annoying. Especially when he said, "She got hair like her daddy coming through now!" to everyone.

Friday is tax-free day here. I don't think we've ever had a tax free day. I'm going to try to get my mom to take full advantage of this since I don't have any uniform shirts or any jeans to wear to school.

Well, enough has been said for today. See ya later!


Rae

Well... I (Actually) Did It Cont.

Okay, so my mom was supposed to shape up my hair yesterday, but that didn't happen... So she's gonna do it today. Her boyfriend, Tony, saw my hair last night. He laughed. My hair is kinda uneven since I did it myself and I got impatient. I've been keeping a scarf around my head partly to protect my hair from the sun and partly to hide my short hair until I'm ready for everyone to see it. It'll be interesting to see the surprised looks on everyone's faces and hear the (positive and negative) comments.
So far, the only somewhat positive comment I've gotten from around me is from my mom. I've gotten negative comments from everyone else, even though they haven't seen my hair.
I'm still trying to figure things out... Like how can I avoid matted hair when I get up in the mornings... And how much will my mom have to cut tonight. I'm wearing a scarf now. I just got out of band around 5pm. I'm gonna go to my gma's house and cowash before I go home to my mom and the hair scissors, so my hair won't be matted. It might be hard for her to shape with the mat. Especially since she's never had to deal with natural hair before.

Well... I guess it's time to go home now... Bye Everyone!

Well, I (Acutally) Did It!

Omg! I BC'd Monday. I'm still in the 'Omg, I cut my hair!' stage. It's not a bad OICMH, though. BC-ing has just sorta been on my mind (a LOT) lately. And I've read that you shouldn't BC until you're ready. So I had changed my mind about setting a date for it. What if I wasn't ready on that date? But I was DEFINITELY not expecting to be ready this early.
I decided to go ahead and try to go through with it, Monday. I mean, hey, I must be ready if it won't stay out of my mind. So I just wet my hair (put my cheap-but-loved condish V05 Moisture Milks in) and let it dry so I could tell a little better where the relaxer ended and the NG began. I had to do that b/c I kept it pulled back so much in a bun that sometimes it actually all seemed kinda straight at times. When it dried, I started at the top. I picked up each clump, examined it, and SNIP! I started to get impatient cutting each clump, so they eventually got bigger and bigger... then I just held all the hair I could and started cutting! hehe!
You wanna know something? I thought I was gonna be devastated when I cut my hair. I thought I'd just curl up into a ball and cry my eyes out like I had lost a loved one or something. But, amazingly, I was just like 'hm... I cut my hair. Oh well...It'll grow back.'
Another reason I did it was to help me deal with my SE issues. I believe that you have to have true confidence to rock short hair or to cut all your hair to begin with. Especially if you've never had short hair. And some of the girls from ANTM have had to do it, anyway!
Most of my friends were mad when I told them I cut my hair. LOL! I actually think it's kinda funny. Some of them said if they were my momma, they would beat my tail. But my mom likes short hair! She has really short hair, too.

Well, I'll elaborate more on this soon. The library I'm in is about to close. Bye world!

Now That's Just LOVELYISH!

I'm currently on Lovelyish.com (I have the same blog on there, too!) and ran across an article that was right on point. No, it isn't about hair. Just read it and then read the rest of this entry.


http://www.lovelyish.com/707242461/why-do-you-talk-white/?cuttag=true

I feel like the girl who wrote this article is so on point! I've been told that so much growing up! "You act so white!" and "Girl you aint black" and blah blah blah! I'm even told that by a couple of white people! They say it like it's a bad thing. It's just like when someone calls something 'gay'. That is offensive. It's kinda racist.

This article made me think. Is the world on a downward spiral? Years ago, black AND white people fought for our freedom and right to vote and right to a proper education. And yet now when we see people who wear their clothes the right size (not falling off of them or so tight you might as well just walk around butt-booty-hole-naked), who don't talk 'ghetto', who can read and spell properly, who care about their education and future, we call these people (no matter their color) 'white', like it's a bad thing. But people are so quick to get upset when they are called or accused of being racist. What's up with that?

If you think about it, it is a slightly racist comment. And if it's not, then it's just saying that black people don't care about their education or future, and don't carry themselves properly. A lot of black people that I know would get really mad if I accused them of saying that too. But if you aren't being racist, and if you aren't downing yourself by calling someone 'white', then what ARE you saying? People (African Americans in particular) look down on African Americans who carry themselves properly, yet when Barrack Obama was elected president, black people were so quick to claim him and be like, 'Yea, that's a BLACK man they elected president!' Obama talks properly. Obama wears his clothes in the right proportions for his body. Obama is an educated black man. The same goes for Michelle Obama. I'm sure it's probably been said elsewhere, but I haven't heard anyone refer to Obama as 'white.' I mean, come on people! What is the deal here??? Why are people so hypocritical nowadays???

Some Things I've Noticed Since Starting My Transition

1. I used to have REALLY dry scalp. Seriously! I never went a day without not having dandruff or a head so itchy I just wanted to scratch off my whole scalp. The dandruff would just come back no matter how much I washed. The only time I didn't have dry scalp was when I was washing. You used to could look at my scalp and see how flaky it was. Since I've started transitioning (and becoming more 'hair-conscious'), my scalp looks AND feels So. MuCh. BETTER!
2. The texture of my hair is so much softer! I love running my hands through my hair and feeling all the thick, baby-soft curls! My hair used to look so thin after a fresh relaxer! A couple of [grown] women have told me how my hair texture looks so much better. Even my mom! AND my g-ma!
3. The hair on my temples has started to grow in some. I guess the relaxers hindered that.
4. I feel like I'm becoming more of who I am on the inside. On the outside I feel so quiet and nervous and insecure... And I feel like part of that has something to do with my hair. The me on the inside is just dying to come out and show everyone how unique and confident she is! You know I don't even sing and/or dance around my own mom and g-ma? I don't. I just feel so uncomfortable. I try to... It just doesn't happen. I would be more confident with big natural curly hair! It would match the inside me, the true me, and more allow her to come out.
5. My g-ma reminisces about the days when I was relaxed. I don't ever go a day without her telling me how long and pretty my hair would be now it I let my mom put a relaxer in it. Or how she could just get a straightening comb and go to town on my head... But I'm not doing this for anyone else. Not even g-ma. This is something I have to do for me.
6. People think I'm crazy when they find out I don't use shampoo anymore (well, rarely). AND when they find out that I wash my hair every few days. "Black folks ain't s'posed to wash they hair every day!" That's what I used to hear when I first started transitioning. I used to cowash nightly. But it was too much hassle (and costly). The people around here don't know how almost wrong they may be. They aren't really aware that African-American hair is probably the most fragile, dryest hair there is.
7. I'm learning more and more as I go on this journey. I can't wait to see what else I'll learn!

I'll update this list as I continue on my transition journey.

The Execution Date is Set... dUm DuM DUUUUUUM!

Lol! It ain't that serious! Well it is in a way. I have finally set the date for my BC. Well... not exactly.
I'm gonna transition until summer of next year. So over my summer break, sometime in June or July, I will be fully natural. Don't worry. I plan to post before and afters!
Here's my plan:
I'm gonna wet my hair and leave it out to dry instead of pulling it back to dry so I can better identify my line of demarcation. I keep my hair pulled back so much, it gets kinda straightened out at times. Then, I'm gonna break out the shears. I'm gonna examine the hair about to be cut and cut off all that I think is relaxed hair on that strand. Well, clump. My hair clumps a lot, so I take back the word strand.
Well, there ya go! I'm probably gonna do at the beginning/mid July since band camp is at the end of July. That will be my last band camp... Tear... Wow. What a great way to start Senior year fresh! With fully natural hair! I have a feeling my senior (and this year!) year will be my best year ever!

HEHH and Aussie Moist Condish

These did not work for me... I was getting them b/c they didn't cost much and I heard they work really well. And I was gonna use these in place of my current products to see if my hair needed a break from proteins for a little while. But I guess this isn't the case... I was gonna Cowash with HEHH Condish and use the aussie as a detangler/LI. But my hair reacted horribly to the HH. Well... my relaxed hair did, anyway. It kinda felt like what I wish a shampoo would feel more like on the rare occasions that I use them. It felt like a gentler, less tangling shampoo. My NG felt great, however! But, I mean, what's the point in using it if it isn't gonna work for both types? I'm not fully natural just yet. The Aussie didn't react too well, either. After trying to put it in and detangle (for like ever!) I finally just rinsed it out and put in my Giovanni. Unfortunately, I don't have the receipt for HH and AussieM. So I guess I'll just stash them away and give them another chance when I'm fully natural. They smell delish!
Sigh... this is my last week of freedom... Band camp starts next Monday. So for Monday-thursday, for 2 weeks from 8am-12pm and 1:30pm-5pm I will be out behind the track at the sun's mercy, practicing movements for our show this year... Pray for me. I hope I don't pass out.

I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE tha song, "On The Ocean"!!!!!!

No, this post isn't all about K 'Jon and his FAB song! I just wanted 2 say that hehe!

The Bad: 1 of my managers that made the schedule 4 tha last couple of weeks, had me off all last week AND this week 2!

The Good!: My BFFL from Memphis is coming down here this weekend! Yayness! Also, the head manager at my job called me last night and told me to come in today. So I did. And she gave me some hours for the rest of the week too! I hate the freakin job, but I do need the money. So I'm tryna use that as inspiration. The other good thing that happened is that my NG has been very beautiful and not very itchy for the last few days! A few nights ago, I just decided to use my Cantu Shea Butter :Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream I recently got and worked it into my roots. I just started getting this weird feeling like I could moisturize my NG a lot better than I've been doing. So I only concentrated on them. I didn't bother with trying to wash/co-wash or anything this time since I had washed with some Johnson's Shampoo+Conditioner for Curly Hair the other night. So I worked in the Cantu LI into my roots and NG and just pulled my hair back again like I always do. My hair looked extra wavy and soft the next morning (my hair was still pulled back). And my scalp wasn't as itchy as it usually is. My only complaint is that I had little white flakes in my hair. I felt them all in the jar when I was apply the CLI. and I saw them in my hair after I put it in, too. I don't think it's because I used too much. I just brushed out the flakes at the top of my head and went on about my day.

So see??? the bad out-weighed the good this week!
I've also decided that I'm gonna start shampooing again... yea just to be safe. But I think my hair has become allergic to shampoo. I don't remember if my hair used to react to shampoo the way it does now or not. But I got the Johnson's b/c I figured it would be more gentler that normal shampoo. And it said shampoo+condish. But my hair got all tangly and stuff this time too. And so much hair came out! But the Johnson's was a little better than other shampoos I have used. So I may just wash maybe every two weeks with it and follow that up by DT-ing with ORS Replenishing Pak.
I would LOVE to try the Mixed Chicks Deep Condish. I may just order some when I get some money.

Regimen Over

I no longer have a set regimen... I kinda just fell out of it. I'm not a "planned out" sort of person. I've just started co-washing or just conditioning every 3-4 days (or whenever my scalp starts to get really really itchy...). I don't really use the Esencia too much anymore... I used it last night, though and left it in for a while since it's very thick. lately I've been mostly washing with some Alberto V05 condish I recently bought (99 cents... ScOrE!!!!!). I got Moisture Milks Strawberries and Creme... It smells so good I wish it was edible... And I use Giovanni Smooth as Silk as my LI. I've been getting really anxious lately. I can't wait until next summer. That's when I'm gonna BC. I'll have about 12 or more inches of hair by then. I could work wit that for a while. I haven't trimmed my ends in a while, mostly because I don't know how to identify a split/damaged end.
I tried to do a staw set last night. But it was a disaster. It was late and I just couldn't do it right last night. So I just took out the straws that I had in and pulled it back. I'm rocking my fake afro puff again today. The first (and last) time I did a straw set, it didn't come at all like I had planned, but I loved the results. I had cornrowed the hair on the sides of my head, made a hump with the hair on the top of my head, and strawed up the rest. It came out looking like a baby fro with twists an a hump. It was so cute! I'll try it again... someday. I just don't really have the patience for it!

Long Live the King!

When I first heard the news that Michael Jackson was in the hospital, I was at a friend's house and 106 was on. We weren't really paying attention, but my ears perked up as soon as I heard. Then they announced the tragic news... I'll be honest... I didn't think much of it, then. I was shocked, but it didn't really sink in, then. I was just ready for the BET awards, thinking, 'Oh, he ain't dead! He probably gon' make a surprise appearance on the BET awards or something...'

As the day went on and over the next few days, it kinda started sinking in... Especially when Janet Jackson got on stage and started speaking... That was when my heart dropped into the bottom of my stomach and my stomach fell into one of my feet. For some reason, it's just hard for me to know that someone as great as him could just die... I easily pictured him still living whenever I got married and had kids, when they graduated, when they eventually came to my funeral... I just couldn't accept the fact that he was gone. It's still hard thinking about it now... I just want so bad to know that he is alive, walking around with us... The tears haven't come out yet, but they are definitely there... Even as I write this.

It's kinda bitter-sweet in a way, I guess... Michael's in a better place now. A much better place. The media has tried to break him down so much, but despite that, he's always had (and always will have) millions of devoted fans (like myself =D) that had his back. This man has made a big impact in so many lives! No matter where he is, Earth or Heaven, MJ will live forever.

This hair style is so fly!

I guess I've decided my transition style before actually deciding it... I've been rocking hair pieces for weeks now. They've all been some form of curly... from loosly curly and long to short and wild. The other day, I bought a curly puff ball and put it on. It was sOoOoOoOoOo FLY!!!! I had already had 3 twists over to the left side at the top of my head from a previous style I had (I'll describe that style later. too cute!). I just pulled back all my loose hair toward the top of my head, wrapped my hair in a scarf for about an hour to lay it down, then put on the puff. I fell in love instantly! I new this would be a style I'd definitely wear when I'm fully natural if I'm able to put my hair up in a puff. I'm wearing the style right now! =D I may co-wash today, though... Not sure....
Oh, and the other style? It was the same, twists to the left side of the top of my head, but with a long drawstring pony that kinda spiraled around into a long sleek tail on the the back-right side of my head.
I didn't really have much to say for this post... Maybe next time...

Rae

Whenever There's an Up, There's Also a Down...

So about two night's ago I cowashed my hair. Except this time, I used an applicator bottle. I made my own little bootlegged bottle, lol! I poured out all the T-Tree oil I no longer used sinced I found out it has a silicone in it. Then I rinsed out that little bottle in case I ever need it again. Then, I found a perfume bottle whose opening was the same size as the T-Tree top. I took another bottle of perfume I hated, poured it out and rinsed the bottle, then poured in the perfume from my soon-to-be-applicator-bottle. Then I rinsed that out, and put in some of my Giovanni SS, some water, some of my ABUHO(Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil), and some melted Shea butter. I actually shampoo'd this time. I think my hair has developed a passionate hate for shampoo now; the few times I shampoo, it always gets tangly and hard to work through. I get that feeling of washing fake hair again...
So after I shampoo'd (no repeat), I conditioned with Giovanni as usual. Then I shook up the applicator bottle to mix up my "Raven's Best Ultimate Smooth as Silk Herbal Giovanni Shea Condish" (ROFL!!!!). I parted my hair in sections and went to town! I worked it in after applying. I was very easy! A lot less breakage! If I had've known that would be the last time I'd wash, I would've rinsed in cold water. But I didn't. I got in my momma's bathroom and got creative. I wanted to try a braid/twist-out. I found out that my hair couldn't hold twists(Idk if it's just my relaxed hair or what...), and I can't braid to the scalp, so I just plaited a lot of it. When I was done (forever and a half later), I put shea butter on the ends of about 3-4 at a time and rolled them on rollers. Then I went to sleep(I hate sleeping with rollers... it's so difficult...).
I took them down yesterday morning after they were dry. And it was a disaster!!!! The back of my head looked like I had gotten rained on... My hair is kinda thin back there, maybe that's why it didn't hold well... But I cured my BHD(bad hair day) before work. I hurried up and pulled it back the best way I could, put a scarf around it until time to go, and put in my ponytail. when I took the scarf off, it was still crazy looking, so I put on two elastic headbands. It was a little messy, but I like a little messy!

Natural Hair Pix!!!!!

I need some inspiration for my transition! So I'm posting these pictures:


I LOVE the natural faux hawk look!!! I'm DEFINITELY gonna try this style when I'm fully natural!:

(Bianca from Cycle 9 of ANTM looking absolutely FIERCE rocking her twa!!!)

(Too bad I couldn't rock it like her... these pix almost make me wanna BC!)

Teyana Taylor: My hair idol. I want hair just like hers!(though I'll still love my hair if I don't) This would be my grandmother's worst fear. However, it's my biggest dream, lol! I love her style AND her hair!

A beautiful Natural-haired woman:

Alicia Keys:

Erykah Badu:

Kimberly Elise(Don't know if she's natural or not, but I love her hair!):

Hmmm....

Hmmm...
I was on NC.com a few days ago(and am currently on there now, hehe!) reading through things and asking questions. I was thinking about using my Aphogee protein treatment to see if it helps with breakage. But the 1st (and last) time I used it (which was way early this year), it made my hair very VERY hard (while it was in), and it was very sticky. And it burned to (kinda like a relaxer burns)! So it was suggested that I use the Keratin Reconstructor since it's more gentle than the PT (I believe I have a sensitive scalp). But I looked at the back of the KR, and I saw it had silicones in it. I yahoo'd Curlynikki, and she said I may be protein sensitive like she is. But the majority of the NC community says maybe I should try some type of protein. The conditioners I use both have proteins in them, though.
I'm hearing some good things about Nexxus Emergencee. I might purchase it and see how my hair reacts. Or I might just try some condishes with little or no protein in them and see how my hair reacts. This is all very confusing...
I'm also thinking of trying henna. I heard cassia is good to try to, but I'm gonna take a chance and just jump to full on BAQ henna. I'm still in love with red hair, so hopefully it gives me the color/tint and conditioning and strengthening effects I'm looking for. I wasn't sure at first, but I think henna-ing it through my transition will be good for my hair. I surely hope so.

And in other non-hair related news... My weekend was ruined... =,( There's a fair that comes down here every summer for about a week (but mostly everyone just waits for the last three days and go Saturday night). Well, my p.t. job that I hate (the job that still doesn't give me that many hours even after I asked for some for the summer) had me working until midnight(closing) Friday AND Saturday. And I was only working during the fair. I've never had to work until closing. So you shoud already know that I didn't get to go... And Sunday, the fair was getting ready to close and hardly no one is there. and wristband time was over with at 5-the time I got off Sunday (I was supposed to have 3 hrs yesterday, and they sent me home at 4! that's 2 hrs!) >=( Well, that's the work world I guess. Everywhere I go to look for a job is only accepting applications... or not even doing that...
But here's the other bad part of my weekend. Sunday: I got off a little after 4. My best friend, Tim, was coming down here from Memphis 2 c me yesterday! (Yes, I have a guy as my best friend) I was so happy, that was the only thing that could lighten up this bad weekend....
So soon as I got home, I took a shower to wash away my troubles, and when I was getting dressed, my mom came to the back and told me that my little brother wanted me to take him up to the fair. I was thinking, 'WHAT!' And Tim and his brother were arriving around 5 (and they WOULD pick that day 2 arrive when they say they will), and it was getting 5 then.
So I went 2 my g-ma's house to pick up my brother. Soon as I got in, my little bro was on the phone and Tim was beeping in saying he was on his way 2 my g-ma's house. Damn Damn Damn! So I asked him if he wanted 2 go up by the fair (that was closing), and he said yea. When we all got up there, of course, they were taking things down and there was barely anyone up there. We were all ready to go, but my brother was just dead set on thinking that some of his friends were up there. So we were all leaving, and I decided to stay a little longer with him (I had my car) since he was acting so mad and upset and spoiled about it, and I told Tim that I'd meet them at the Waffle House in a little bit. We walked around a little bit, and saw a few folks we knew that were his age, but none of his friends that he thought were up there were there. So he spent $8 on a pellet gun with no pellets and $10 on some fake earrings (fair earrings) and we left.
I had parked in a different spot that when we had first gotten up there, so I was trying to be careful not to hit anyone or get hit when I was backing out b/c I couldn't see around the bit truck beside me. So when I had pulled all the way out, my brother said, "I think you hit that car. I saw it rocking..." I told him I didn't b/c we woulda heard it and felt it." I mean, we would've, right???
So I was getting ready 2 leave, but this sheriff lady that was standing outside motioned for me 2 pull over. She went and looked at the other car and came back and told me I put a small scratch in the car. Then she made us wait for the people who owned the car to get there and see what they wanted to do. We were out there for about a good half-hour... Then, this family was walking down the road leaving the fair. The husband stopped to talk to a friend. The woman and some little kids started to get in the car (they couldn't even see the scratch). That's when ms. sheriff lady hurried across the street and told husband about the scratch and pointed it out to him and wifey. They decided not to do anything. It couldn't have been bad if me and my brother didn't feel it, and they didn't even see it.
Basically, I was stuck on the lake for about an hour and a half for no good reason. And when I was on my way 2 my house, Tim, his "brother", and there friend, were outside waiting. By the time we even got in the house, we had, what, 20 minutes to hang and chill... His brother wanted to leave at 830. So, yea... that was my weekend... And I am definitely not looking forward to going home and seeing my mom... I haven't seen here since she left for work (she works at a hospital from 7p-7a). She's off today... She is gonna eat me up for this one...

Well, I have to g2 work at 130. I work from 130-5. So I guess I'm gonna go...

Rae

Goals and Things to Do..

1. Purchase another digital cam. Mine was stolen...
2. Stay inspired. Through my transition and in other aspects of life as well. It's good to be inspired/motivated.
3. Do not settle. You can always have better. And if you believe so, you will find it.
4. Learn to save my money. It is not good when you have a job, live with your mom, have no dependencies, and BROKE!
5. Transition fully from relaxed to natural. I want a head full of big, thick, long, curly, HEALTHY hair.
6. Lose weight. I'm not the biggest person out there, but A little weight loss wouldn't hurt at all.

This list is subject to change!

Rae

Return!

I was very not impressed with Jason's Tea Trea Scalp Normalizing Condish. It was not for me. Again, I felt like I was washing fake hair. And to add to my frustration, it felt like the conditioner was just sitting on my hair, like the YesTo and Mane n Tail Condish. So... I exchanged it. I just stuck to what I know. I restocked on some of my Gio SSDM and I also got a Cosmopolitan Mag with the Walgreens card from my last exchange! And to add to my day of "freebies" my Seventeen Mag FINALLY came in the mail!!! Yayness!

Breakage, Breakage, Breakage....

.... The title is self explanatory... When I first started my transition journey, I got a lot of breakage... I didn't really pay attention to whether I saw any white bulbs or not, but whenever I did examine the shed hairs, I saw quite a few white bulbs. Then the shedding slacked up some. But now I'm starting to get lots of breakage again... breakage is all on my ponytail holders when I take down my bun... all over my hands when I wash and detangle... I don't see any bald spots or anywhere that looks like it's about to be a bs, though. That's what keeps me from panicking as much. My hair is getting so thick and packed at the roots. It's hard dealing with the two textures. I think about perms from time to time, but I'm never tempted to get another. It might be easier to deal with my hair then, but I hate how flat and straight my hair looks... Like I said, I've developed an affinity for big, thick, curly hair...

I don't wash every day anymore... it's too hard on my wallet. (an eleventh grader with a part-time job at mickey d's that barely gets enough hours can't be buying conditioner and hair products all the time)

The other day I was at walgreens and bought some "Yes To Cucumbers" shampoo and conditioner... This was the first time I was going to shampoo since my journey started. I glanced at the back at the ingredient's to make sure I didn't see the words, 'sulphate,' 'paraben,' '-cone,' '-xane,' or anything else I recognized that is not so good for hair.... I would notice the word sulphate on the back of the shampoo when I got home later on... But since I bought it, I tried it anyway. I'm trying to find what works for my hair. I was not impressed. When I used the the products, it reminded me of when I used Mane and Tail. Mane and Tail did not impress me. Have you ever tried to wash a barbie doll's hair when you were younger??? it gets all tangly and hard to detangle and stuff. Well that's what I felt when I shampoo'd. I only shampoo'd once b/c I didn't feel I needed a second time (nor did I like the shampoo). So this little experience has renewed my motivation not to shampoo. I wasn't really impressed with the conditioner, either. It wasn't nearly as great as my Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner. And I'm more impressed with my Escencia Hydrating Conditioner than I was with this. Yes, I returned "Yes To Cucumbers" yesterday and I could only exchange since receipt had disappeared. So I got Jason's Tea Trea Scalp Normalizing Conditioner, Dickinson's Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner, and a gift card with about $4 and something on it... I haven't used the conditioner yet, since I washed with the YesTO the night before. But I can't wait to use it and see what it's like! I used the Toner (100% natural!) last night and this morning right after my Burt's Bee's Orange Essence Facial Cleanser (100% natural!). I am very impressed with my new natural facial regimen. These are my new staples!
If I'm impressed with Jason, I may just replace my Escencia with it. I love Giovanni! For now, he isn't up for replacement!

Finally Seeing the Fruits of My Labor

My hair is GROWING! YaAaAaAaAaY!!!!! I just took a picture of my bun(on my phone since I don't have a digital camera yet) and uploaded it. When I started bunning, they were really small and I had to use one ponytail holder. Now I am starting to see growth! My hair is at shoulder length now and I can use two scrunchies instead of one. I wonder how long its gonna take before I'm fully natural...
I've stopped using the wrap foam. Now I'm just wrapping it really good and tight to my head so my hair isn't flying and lays down flat when it's dry...
Well I am getting very sleepy, so I ges Im gonna go..

Attempting to Reconstruct my hair care regimen...

In my quest to eliminate heat use, I've quit rollersetting my hair... (tear... it was cute even though it came out wrong...). Im trying buns now to revive my ends and help grow my hair. I'm also gonna try co-washing. I have heard a lot about it and it sounds really good, so... yea...

Old regimen: washing hair about once a week, w/ shampoo and conditioner, wrapping, and sitting under the dryer forEVER... comb down hair, oil scalp(sometimes), and flat iron every little bit of hair(no kind of protection)

New Regimen(so far): co-washing almost nightly. shampoo & deep condition once a week. hot oil treatment once a week. After co-washing, or reg. washing, oil scalp. pull back in my small(my hair is only mid neck/shoulder length) trusty bun. Apply wrapping foam and brush in with my very soft-bristled brush to tame edges. Wrap with scarf to further tame edges. Put on silk bonnet and get ready for bed =).

Current Products:

* Esencia (by Samy) Hydrating Shampoo

* Esencia (by Samy) Hydrating Conditioner

* Smooth As Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo (by Giovanni)

* Smooth As Silk Deep Moisture Conditioner (by Giovanni)

* T- Tree Scalp Oil

* Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil With Ginseng

* Nairobi Wrap-It Shine Foaming Lotion

Lol, yea, as you can see, I'm sorta turning into an all natural freak. Oh, and speaking of all natural, I just HAVE to reccommend the Burt's Bees Line to everyone. In my all natural rave, I bought the daily facial cleanser. I have combination skin. My skin gets really dry after I wash it, but throughout the day, gets really oily. I have to wipe my face constantly. This is the first cleanser that says it won't dry my face out, and actually lives up to its word. And the best part... its 100% natural! Yay!

But back on my hair. I co-wash with the conditioners listed above. I've just started using them all (except the foam) not too long ago. I think these are the products that are gonna end my days as a PJ (which I unfortunately got from my beautiful mother). My mom says my hair has been smelling really fresh since I'm washing every night (she and my g-ma think that my hair is gonna fall out from all the washing, lol). She's starting to be a little more supportive now that she sees I'm really serious about going natural. I can't wait until I'm done with all this transitioning. I wanna see what my hair looks like! Oh yea, and after i had co-washed last night, I was trying to find out what my natural hair type was when I was parting it to oil my scalp. and I saw a few really loopy/wavy/curly hairs. That made me really happy and seeing the progress has given me more inspiration to keep going! I don't know when I'll BC... I was thinking maybe in March or April of next year... It depends on my length...

Well I guess I'll go now. The computer room is about to close.

Adios chicas!

Lady Rae

New Style

I'm trying to learn how to take care of my own hair/do hair. So I tried to roller-set my own hair. Now let me tell you- my mom's hair-doing genes kinda skipped me. So, yea, it didn't come out right... But somehow whenever certain things I try with my hair don't come out right, they still do! Lol let me explain...
So anyway, after I washed and conditioned and everything, I used my wrapping foam-slash-setting lotion for my hair. It took forever (I wouldn't say exactly FOREVER b/c I'm kinda lazy...) and my hair started to dry as I finished. I had a little spray bottle of water beside me, though, so don't worry. for a lot of peices of my hair, I just put a little wrapping foam directly on the hair I was about to roll and combed it in. After I finally got all of my hair rolled up to the best of my abilities and sat under the dryer already semi dry kind of... When I got out and took the rollers out, it did NOT look right. So i got kinda mad and started to ruffle out the curls... and voila! It was so cute! I've been wearing my hair in this wild curly- looking look for a week now... But I'm not gonna get to used to this... Im trying to cut out my heat usage.
I'm gonna go now. If anyone knows how to do cute buns for hair somewhere between short-medium hair, or know any other styles, help a sister out, please! I'm really interested in learning the southern girl tease bun.

Lady Rae

My 1st Post: It's Time To Go Back To My Roots

Well, everyone. I think its about that time... Time for me to go back to my roots, to go back to what I was originally made with and lost so many years ago... I have a confession to make: I've been covering up something about myself for years... For so many years, in fact, that it's been forgotten about and isn't even a part of me anymore. But, deep down, it is and always will be as long as I have breath in my body. And now, this secret is about to come out for the whole world to see....
LoL, I bet you're like, 'what the hell is this chick talking about???'. I'm talking about my hair. Sorry I made it sound so serious . But, I am going to grow out my natural hair. I don't have the guts to BC yet, b/c short hair wouldn't work with me. So I'm just growing out my natural hair and cutting off the relaxed hair as it grows out or when i trim my ends. Pray for me: I have no clue what to do. I'm not going to a salon. I've been wanting to learn how to do my own hair, anyway. That's another reason why I say pray for me. My hair is probably gonna look so uneven at times since I'm trimming my own ends. Support, tips, and suggestions would be really appreciated. The only support I have around me is myself. My mom and grandma, the two most important people in my life, think I'm crazy... But Im not giving in.

WHY I CHOSE TO TRANSITION BACK TO MY NATURAL HAIR
I want my hair to be healthier. I know relaxers arent horrible when done right, but it's even healthier to just avoid them. I started getting perms at an early age (like 5 or 6 I think, maybe younger). No matter what I do, now, my hair grows a little past my shoulders, but thats it. I want my hair longer, and also healthier.
I'm also just really bored with relaxers. I hate how my hair looks after a fresh one, too: flat to my head, limp, bone straight, dead... Not downing straight hair, though, don't misunderstand me ( I'm just talking about on ME). But I don't want straight hair all the time, and I can barely do anything to it... I'll have more versatility with my natural hair, in my opinion.
Reason number 3: I've developed an affinity for big, curly, natural (or even messy-looking), hair. I love it! And I want my own, so I won't obsess about other people's hair as much anymore. I know my hair may not look exactly like that; but idk my natural hair; I've never seen it. No, the times when I was little don't count because I don't even remember those.
Reason number 4: I want to be different. I love being different, unique. You don't see much of that in Mississippi. And I stay in a small town, so you really don't see it here. My outside personality is kinda on the verge of a little/terribly shy. I'm trying to come out of it. I believe transitioning will help me become more comfortable in my skin and when I become completely natural, I believe it will help my more inner, outgoing personality come out a little better. I will feel like myself. Less awkward; more confident; me. My inner self comes out mostly on the internet and a few of my close friends. I want this great, sparkling me to be shown to everyone. I'm even terribly shy around my mom. I know the saying that no matter how much you change on the outside, you're not fixed until you've changed on the inside as well. But the main reason I have such low self-esteem is because sometimes I just feel out of place, or like things just don't fit. I think my hiar is one of the missing puzzle peices. It will help fix the inner me, because my hair now is making the inside feel like something isn't right; and something's not.
Final Reason: I'll admit it- I'm kinda lazy, hehe ! When I'm completely natural, I wont have to deal with all the stuff that I deal with now with permed hair: touch-ups, wrapping at night, styling, heat( blowdryers, curling irons, etc.). I can flat-iron when i feel like it and not worry if I don't. I can have a messy look and it'll be cute. I won't have to worry about what to do all the time. I wont have to worry about getting my hair wet and looking like i stuck my finger in a light socket, lol! One of the pics I look at for inspiration is the picture of the girl at the top of the site maneandchic.com. I love it. Hehe i even printed it!

I'll add pics of my transition as soon as I get around a camera. I sort of decided to do this in between perms, so I don't really know how far along I am. I know I've had one perm this year. Either in January or February, so I'm probably about 2-3 months in.

Well, yall, I'm outies. If you have any, I'd love support, tips, sites, and suggestions. Thx!




LaDy RaE