Thursday, May 21, 2009
short update
Here is a short update of what's be going on with our natural hair journey. I'm still in braids. I did cut them today with hopes of having a layered sort of look. I think I did ok. Since I'm about 30 weeks almost 31 weeks pregnant, I don't think I'll be taking any snap shots yet. I'm not feeling up to being photographed. I'm in my blah pregnancy mode now. 3rd trimester is here and I'm hoping it will go fast! The baby is moving quite a lot. Her movements have slowed down but she still stretches, rolls and kicks. It sort of wears me down. If you want to read more about the pregnancy visit my other blog just for my thoughts at http://tscullen.blogspot.com/
My girls are still happy with their braid locs. I've had to retighten them since I last blogged. My son is still wearing his Mohawk too. Here are some updated photos of them.
Here is my son's Mohawk. He's not doing school work, he's actually messing with the girl's math books trying to see if he can do their work lol.
My girls are still happy with their braid locs. I've had to retighten them since I last blogged. My son is still wearing his Mohawk too. Here are some updated photos of them.
Here is my son's Mohawk. He's not doing school work, he's actually messing with the girl's math books trying to see if he can do their work lol.
His hair is getting longer. He started his Mohawk in August 2008.
Here's one of the girls with their braid out hair do. She got the ends wet so it's not exactly how it was when we first took it down,
Here's one of the girls with their braid out hair do. She got the ends wet so it's not exactly how it was when we first took it down,
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Mohawks n' Braid locs
It's been a long while since I've updated this blog. I'm still on my journey. I decided to take a little hair combing break and put the braids back in. I'm 27 weeks and 4 days pregnant at the moment. I kind of got tired of getting up looking crazy and having to fix my hair. So braids it is. While I put them in I did the big chop. I cut inches of my hair. So it's all natural in there! Yay! I did this about 2 years ago and loved my natural hair when I took the braids out. I'm one that doesn't think she can sport the tiny fro. I'm not comfortable with it. Some ladies look great with it. I don't think I would. It does make life easier for me. I tried to contact the consultant in my area months ago but she hasn't returned my phone call. Oh well. I might just find a way to do mine at home! Any how this is me now. Pregnant with the braids. I was 24 weeks here.
My girls now have braid locs! I'm proud of myself for doing the DIY. It's saving me lots of money. They are doing quite well. I started to re tighten them for the 2nd time. My son is getting locs too. His started out with twists. He's been sporting this Mohawk since last August. He gets tons of compliments on it. It is rather cool. I do need some great moisturizing products for our hair. I prefer something all natural. I've been trying to keep up with the lock it up yahoo group. There are so many good suggestions and questions coming through. Anyhow if you have a home recipe or a product that you like please leave me a comment telling me about it. Here are my girls, and my son. One daughter has her hair curled and the other straight. The girls also just got braces earlier this month!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
When the Smiles Came Out.
Yesterday I washed my girls hair and braided it in cornrows while it was wet. I let it air dry and they went to bed with their hair like this. They they liked their hair in the cornrows. I think it was simple for them. They also knew their hair wouldn't be tangled up with Bed head in the morning. Both the girls don't like to have their hair fixed. So I'm trying to find easy hair styles that does not involved heat. Here is what the Cornrows looked liked. I also did this to my hair the day before. I have my roots twisted but they don't.
This afternoon I took their hair down after their school day was finished. It's thick and wavy. I don't have the Tomoka's Twists yet so I took two hairpins and pushed the sides up and back. I'm excited to try the Tomoka's twist hair accessories. They are so cute! So here is what they look like now with their big wavy hair. They are so happy about their hair now. All the smiles came out when they looked in the mirror. It feels good to like your hair!
This afternoon I took their hair down after their school day was finished. It's thick and wavy. I don't have the Tomoka's Twists yet so I took two hairpins and pushed the sides up and back. I'm excited to try the Tomoka's twist hair accessories. They are so cute! So here is what they look like now with their big wavy hair. They are so happy about their hair now. All the smiles came out when they looked in the mirror. It feels good to like your hair!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Guiding Encouragment.
So I got up today and decided to braid and band my hair. The first two times I did inside braids. This time I did outside braids and it came out wavier than last time. I’m not sure if I like it yet. I think I’d like it to be some where in-between. This is a good hairstyle for my transitioning. It’s giving me some practice on the braiding and banding. So far so good. My hair is growing well. I found the hair growth guide in the Going Natural book interesting. Last week I took a strand of my hair and laid it on the guide. I placed a clear cover over it to take a picture of it. It s been about 4 months since I made the decision to go natural.
According to that guide I have about 2.5 inches of natural hair growth. Now my question has been asked but not answered, is this how you measure natural African American hair? I’ve seen some stretch it out and wondered if this was right. The hair in the photo is not stretched, just flattened for photo sake. I've also noticed the different textures on my head. I don’t think I will be contacting a consultant just yet. I want a bit more growth before going to the consultant again.
I have found this time around I don't have that urge to perm at all. My husband has been a great encouragement to me in this whole process. He's told me he likes my hair and is happy to see me with my hair like this. He says he loves the texture and how soft it is. It is weird because I have to get used to him having his fingers in my hair now. I'm not used to it but love it when he reaches over and feels my hair. It is such a blessing to hear his compliments on this journey. I am enjoying this journey. So far so good with the transitioning!
According to that guide I have about 2.5 inches of natural hair growth. Now my question has been asked but not answered, is this how you measure natural African American hair? I’ve seen some stretch it out and wondered if this was right. The hair in the photo is not stretched, just flattened for photo sake. I've also noticed the different textures on my head. I don’t think I will be contacting a consultant just yet. I want a bit more growth before going to the consultant again.
I have found this time around I don't have that urge to perm at all. My husband has been a great encouragement to me in this whole process. He's told me he likes my hair and is happy to see me with my hair like this. He says he loves the texture and how soft it is. It is weird because I have to get used to him having his fingers in my hair now. I'm not used to it but love it when he reaches over and feels my hair. It is such a blessing to hear his compliments on this journey. I am enjoying this journey. So far so good with the transitioning!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Reading up
Ok, so today I had sort of a bad hair day. It wasn't bad I just was blah about my hair. I couldn't decide on how I wanted to wear it today. I started out with two braids in the back then decided to just wear it pulled back on the sides. Yesterday I had it all curled and felt good about it. The mist from the shower made my curls fall. So I had blah hair today. I'm still wearing the twists.
I bought some natural hair books. I got
Curl Talk: Everything You Need to Know to Love and Care for Your Curly, Kinky, Wavy, or Frizzy Hair
Hair Rules!: The Ultimate Hair-Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly, or Wavy Hair
Going-Natural: How to Fall in Love with Nappy Hair [Illustrated]
Organic Body Care Recipes
Locs for Life: The Root to Well Being for African-American Women
I just finished Locs for Life. I read this whole book on a plane from Los Angeles to St. Louis. It was a short good read. I did learn a bit about locs. The author talks of her experience with her natural hair. I think most women with kinky hair can identify with her struggles of dealing with hair and fitting into society's views.
I haven't started reading the other books just yet. I did thumb through the book Going-Natural. It has an hair growth measurement guide that interested me. You can see the measurement guide it if you click on the link and view the book online.
I'm excited about the Organics Body Care Recipes books since reading The Green Beauty Guide. I've become interested more in the green sort of living. One of the things I think about is just how much damage has relaxing my hair done to my hair and scalp over the years. The chemicals that are in the relaxers are scary. That just makes reading about natural choices and alternatives more appealing.
Aside from the books, I did see a website that was interesting. http://naturalsuccess.ning.com/ it is a wonderful site!
I bought some natural hair books. I got
Curl Talk: Everything You Need to Know to Love and Care for Your Curly, Kinky, Wavy, or Frizzy Hair
Hair Rules!: The Ultimate Hair-Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly, or Wavy Hair
Going-Natural: How to Fall in Love with Nappy Hair [Illustrated]
Organic Body Care Recipes
Locs for Life: The Root to Well Being for African-American Women
I just finished Locs for Life. I read this whole book on a plane from Los Angeles to St. Louis. It was a short good read. I did learn a bit about locs. The author talks of her experience with her natural hair. I think most women with kinky hair can identify with her struggles of dealing with hair and fitting into society's views.
I haven't started reading the other books just yet. I did thumb through the book Going-Natural. It has an hair growth measurement guide that interested me. You can see the measurement guide it if you click on the link and view the book online.
I'm excited about the Organics Body Care Recipes books since reading The Green Beauty Guide. I've become interested more in the green sort of living. One of the things I think about is just how much damage has relaxing my hair done to my hair and scalp over the years. The chemicals that are in the relaxers are scary. That just makes reading about natural choices and alternatives more appealing.
Aside from the books, I did see a website that was interesting. http://naturalsuccess.ning.com/ it is a wonderful site!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Happy Again
Tonight I did some more SL blog surfing looking at photos of others that have blogged their Sisterlock journeys. This has become a favorite past time now! Am I obsessed? I don't now but I like looking at the various styles others have done. I ran across a site that has become my new found inspiration. Her locks are so beautiful I had to mention it. Take a look at Taylor Made Locks gallery!
Well, I've just been wearing the twist and curling the ends. I did discover this weekend while re-twisting that I'm halfway to the 2 inches I want to get the sisterlocks. I know they say 1 1/2 inches but I want to grow 2 just to make sure. Now my question to any of you that had relaxed ends when you got your sister locks installed is, did your sisterlock consultant lock your relaxed hair? I can say I notice my thicker natural hair more verse the thinner relaxed hair. This is not the first time I have gone natural though. The first time I transitioned with braids. I've seen my natural hair texture and I like it. It's sort of spongy and curly. I had braids all during the transition stage. When I felt comfortable enough with the length I began cutting the permed ends off. Eventually it was all natural. I liked it but didn't know how to maintain it so I relaxed it again. That was in 2007. I have to say every since I got it relaxed I have regretted that decision. My dh says that my natural hair is softer than the permed hair. I think my cousin described the relaxed hair as Hay head. When it was relaxed sometimes it would feel like hay then it would soften up. I'm tried of "needing a perm" so now I'm on the road to being all natural again. I'm happy. I think the been there done that was a good experience to make my decision to get sisterlocks a solid one. The ladies on Lockitup have been a great inspiration for me too.
Well, I've just been wearing the twist and curling the ends. I did discover this weekend while re-twisting that I'm halfway to the 2 inches I want to get the sisterlocks. I know they say 1 1/2 inches but I want to grow 2 just to make sure. Now my question to any of you that had relaxed ends when you got your sister locks installed is, did your sisterlock consultant lock your relaxed hair? I can say I notice my thicker natural hair more verse the thinner relaxed hair. This is not the first time I have gone natural though. The first time I transitioned with braids. I've seen my natural hair texture and I like it. It's sort of spongy and curly. I had braids all during the transition stage. When I felt comfortable enough with the length I began cutting the permed ends off. Eventually it was all natural. I liked it but didn't know how to maintain it so I relaxed it again. That was in 2007. I have to say every since I got it relaxed I have regretted that decision. My dh says that my natural hair is softer than the permed hair. I think my cousin described the relaxed hair as Hay head. When it was relaxed sometimes it would feel like hay then it would soften up. I'm tried of "needing a perm" so now I'm on the road to being all natural again. I'm happy. I think the been there done that was a good experience to make my decision to get sisterlocks a solid one. The ladies on Lockitup have been a great inspiration for me too.
Today I just sprayed my roots with an oil and water mix I made with the Carol's Daughter Lisa Hair Elixir. I wanted to be able to get some moisture in it with a spray bottle. I didn't want to go on a hunt for all new products. So far so good! I'm liking this transition. I guess I'm doing better than my last post!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Hair today, gone tomorrow...
Well I sit here looking funny. I've washed my hair and put it in braids. I did the banding thing like what the SL consultants advise you to do. I didn't want to redo these twists. This is my second time doing this. The first time it came out great. I loved the waves it gave. This time not so good. I'm kind of blah about it waves now. I'm supposed to go to a place today with friends so I do want it to look better. Why doesn't hair come out the same time each time!? Oh well. I need to go fix it up better. I'm not as thrilled today about my hair as I was a couple of days ago. I hope tomorrow will be different. I'm going to go and try to fix it so I won't feel uncomfortable tonight. I'm feeling a little crabby about hair at the moment.