Braid out: Updo w/ a BANG!

Update: Back to black and natural hair milestone!

Okay, I know I've been gone for about 4 months, but a lot has happened with my hair!

First, I installed my own box braids. I was somewhat pleased with them, it was my first time, but they could have been better. I used 100% kanekalon hair in colors 30 and 1B. It took about 16-19 hours. (Crazy, I know!) I loved this style in buns and fish tail braids which were my to-go style for the 3 weeks that I had them in.

I then dyed my hair black. As you may know, I had the blonde in the front. I dyed it red/blonde in November of 2010, so I had about 6 inches of black new growth and I was not happy with the look. So...all black it is!

                                                                                                           I then started experimenting with turbans which are my winter staples and must haves! I have them in all colors, patterns, and fabrics.

My natural hair milestone! THE HIGH BUN! When I was relaxed, buns were my thang! I didn't leave the house without a bun 80% of the time. So when I cut my hair to go natural I was very upset that I could no longer wear a bun. But after a year and a half, it's possible! :D 












SUPER TACKY POST. GET OVER IT! :)

Yarn Braids: Regal Twist Bun.

The video should explain everything. :)

Genie Locs/Yarn braids.

I installed my genie locs myself. It took me about 2 days, but that's with eating, sleeping, watching TV, etc...

Things you should know about genie locs/yarn braids:

• Never use wool yarn. It will actually loc your hair. Always use acrylic yarn. The best brand is Red Heart Super Saver. It's about $2.50 for the smaller size and $5 for the bigger ones. I bought two smaller spools and used 1 and 1/6th. Lol.
• Always spray a conditioner or moisturizer on the yarn before you install it.
• If you want your hair to be 2 feet, use 4 foot long strands of yarn. Want 3 feet? Then use 6 feet. You see where I'm going with this?
• There are two methods to seal your ends. The lighter method, just burn the ends of the strands. The boiling water method, knot the ends of the strands and dip into boiling water. I used the burn method.

Here are a few pics. :)

Braid out #2.

I did a braid out today!

About two days ago, I moisturized my hair with raw shea butter and plaited my hair. There were about 13-15 plaits. I kept them in for 2 days, because sadly I don't leave the comfort of my own home.

I used coconut oil on my fingers to take them out. I then used a pick at my roots for fullness and to hide the ugly parts. I think it came out beautiful! I've never been as successful with braidouts as I was today. *claps*

Stay tuned for yarn braids/genie locs! :)

Twist Updo!

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE TWIST UPDO.

1. Part your hair in two sections; front and back. (Part from ear to ear)
2. Part the front section into three sections; left side, top, right side.
3. Twist four flat twists in a swooping motion on the left and right sides.
4. For the top section, create very small single twists to the side you want your bang to lay.
5. Pin the bang to the side with bobby pins. (My bang is in a swirl motion)
6. Create chunky twists for the whole back section.
7. Pin up back in any desired way.

Works best on dry or damp, stretched hair.

:) 

One Year Nappiversary!

Here are side by side comparison pictures:

Wash N Gos.

July 7th, 2010 to May 27th, 2011.

Fros.

July 31th, 2010 to May 6th, 2011.

Back (wet)

June 3rd, 2010 to May 27th, 2011.

Measurements:

Front- 7 inches.

Sides- about 8 inches.

Crown- 8 inches.

Back- 6-7 inches.

One month until my one year nappiversary!

I will have great updates. A post about what I learned, products I loved, products I hated, the nitty gritty on the different colors of my hair, what I wish I would have done, goals I will set for next year, etc... I'm so excited! ^_^

half mohawk style.

I washed my hair today and decided to define my curls further than what I've done in months. What I mean by this is, actually raking a product through my hair to define each and every strand. I used Smooth N Shine Curl Activator Gel. I hadn't used it to define my curls since I first did my Big Chop, 11 months ago.

After I defined my curls, which took about 15 minutes, I noticed that I didn't know what to do with it. My hair is at the awkward length where it's not long enough to do many styles with it, but it's not short enough to be considered a TWA.

Anywho, I simply pulled the sides back and secured with about 3 bobby pins on each side. Simple as that. :)

M.I.A...again.

I'm so sorry I've been gone for almost a month. It happens a lot. :\
But I do have pictures and a little commentary (look at posts below).

I got a few new headbands so I'll probably do an update on those. Lol.

Thanks for the love and support. Muahh!

Texture and Color shot.

First Braid out.

March 19, 2011.
It turned out okay. It was my VERY first one. I loved the volume, I just wish the coils at the top were like that all over. I just did two twists at the top also. :)

First Successful Twist out.

March 13, 2011.
I loved this and so did everyone else on campus!

It lasted a few days down, but I had to wear a twist out puff.

Natural hair vs. Relaxed/Permed hair.

I sometimes get annoyed when naturals think they’re special because they don’t get perms. So…how were you feeling with that perm? I understand you take pride in your natural hair, as do I, but seriously? You’re the same person you were before you stopped getting perms. (At least I would hope so) I understand feeling free, liberated, and more confident, but you’re still you, and vice versa. Some girls are walking around slanging their weaves to naturals. So you think you’re better than I am because you had that 16 inch junk sewed into your head and glued to your scalp? Oh ok.

I don’t understand the discrimination in our own community.

I loved my relaxed hair just as much as I love my natural.

I haven't really had a weave so I don't know how that feels. Lol. *shrug*

Pros and Cons of Blowouts.

Hi everyone! I know I haven't been around for like a stinkin' month, but I've been busy with school and dwelling in a lot of self pity. Tsk Tsk. I know. But I've also been trying to work on my relationship with the Lord. If you don't believe...well I'm sorry.

Anywho. I haven't been doing much to my hair at all lately. The "Fro Comparison" was my second blowout on my hair since I've been natural and that's pretty much have I've had it since the time I took that picture about a month ago. I decided to blow it out because I cannot be walking out of the house with wet hair from a wash and go since it's winter and raining and snowing all over the place. The blow out is actually less maintenance also. 

Pros of blowouts: 

• Stretched hair, no battling with shrinkage.
• Don't have to wet hair everyday (as I had to do) for your hair to look decent. 
• Easier to keep tangles away and to detangle of there are any.
• Somedays I just fluff, put on a headband, and go.
• More styles that shrunken hair won't allow.

Cons of blowouts:

• If you want to have stretched hair for awhile, washing your hair is pretty much out of the question unless you don't mind blowing it out again (after washing of course)
• It takes about an hour or two for me to blowout my hair because my hair is 4A (very very kinky coily), so I have to do very very small sections to avoid breakage and tangling.
• Possible heat damage if not done correctly. (Direct heat or high temperatures.)

Steps I do to blow out my hair:

• Wash my hair thoroughly, because it will be about a week or two before I wash it again so it has to be clarified.
• I use Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioner all over while it's wet and wait until my hair is damp to began.
• I take a small section from the back, put oils on it, then a small amount of heat protectant. (I clip the rest of my hair out of the way.)
• Next I detangle with a wide tooth comb.
• Then I stretch my hair with my hands and blow dry that section.
• Once I get to the ends, I use a comb while the blow dryer is blowing, and comb through.
• When I am done with that section I twist it to get it out of the way, and go on to the next section.

It may seem like a lot of product in my hair but it isn't at all. My hair is light and has shine and movement when I am done. I hope that was clear to you all. :)

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend loves!

By the way: the picture above is a 3-4 day old twist out on blown out hair. I just fluff and go in the mornings.

fro comparison.

July 31st, 2010 to January 6th, 2011.