Journey to Healthy Hair

Just say no, just say no. 

Why is it during the winter time curly girls are so tempted to flat iron? Is it easier to wear straight locks to keep your hair moisturized in cold months. Or is it that the winter time is the only time when curly girls hair will stay straight? I'm falling into it myself. It  is so easy to do because supposedly wet hair in cold weather equals being sick. 

Since I around have some damage I don't want to add more heat to the already damaged ends.  Here are the steps I am taking:

1. Daily moisturize hair with my moisturizer (Kids' Best Moisturizing hair lotion)

2. Oil my scalp and ends with olive, grapeseed, or herbal oil daily. 

3. Shampoo weekly

4. Deep Condition weekly

5. Co-Wash more

6. Be gentle when styling. 

I have been doing protein treatments more frequently to help with the damage but ultimately I have been chopping my straight damaged pieces. 

What I am trying not to do is straighten my hair. But if I do. I would condition my hair overnight in big detangled twist so I don't have that much work to do in the morning .  Add a heat protectant . If you have a comb attachment blow your hair out, that way. I don't so I would use a paddle brush and blow out my big twist. When my hair is dry I would add a little oil and straighten in small sections probably with my instyler. Add moisture if needed. 

Usually I wear my hair in twist outs, styled a day or two after a wash and go. As the week progresses I wear buns or my new fav hair style is the faux french braid. 

Does doing a Big Chop make you more natural?

When I made the decision to stop getting relaxers and style my hair in its own natural texture it was a slow decision. I am accustom to long hair and I was not going to just chop it all off and have short hair. Nowadays I see so many women at my university and just around who have big chopped. I wonder do they feel more liberated than me? Is the big chop your initiation into Natural Hair Community? So if you gradually transition does that make you a cheater?
I can only speak for those who have transitioned into natural hair. I personal do believe this is the best route towards natural hair because you are able to learn your hair in the the time you are transitioning. We transitioners get the change to chop up our hair a bit also. But not in the same vein as a big chopper.

The concept of a natural afrocentric woman might be the woman that big chops her hair to free herself of her creamy crack addiction. Free herself of the norm, free herself of societal requires of beauty.

But the lady transitioning has to two opposing textures basically fighting each other on her head. She might try to preserve some kind of social acceptance until she is conformable and confidence in her natural texture.

Am I saying a gal with a TWA is more confident than someone with bra strap length hair with some relaxed ends? Not really, I'm saying the initial release that comes with cutting off all of your relaxed ends (ie societal norms, things that are commonly perceived as beautiful) disappear and the gal is now left with just her. Her natural untouched, untamed, possibly unruly self.  Now that is staying beautiful.

In  the end it's really up to the woman and her preference. I don't think I would want to big chop. I liked watching my hair awkwardly change in front of me. It was pretty liberating.

Five Natural Hair faves

Day 1 and 2 of Protective Styling

My personal challenge has started. July 31st I co washed my hair with some Suave conditioner and MyHoneyChild OliveYou scalp cleanser. I used the wrong thing leave in conditioner. This Mixed Silk stuff is terrible. If I wanted my hair to be weighed down  I would use it but  for a wash and go it was terrible. But that's another story. My hair wasn't fresh feeling. It was soft and what not but I didn't like it. I'm back in my banded french ponytail style. It's becoming my favorite protective style. I think i"m going to wet my hair and slight it back into a bun tomorrow. I really hope that my hair will grow out like I need.

So here is another thing that is bothering me. Well not bothering me but just is interesting to me. Everyone is cutting their hair. It is so interesting to see everyone just as interesting in natural hair now.  I guess it bothers me because I felt judged when it was transitioning  and now it's trending.  I suppose it a good thing. I feel like I started this trend at my school . LOL