Hair, Hair, Hair

Hey guys! So as you know I've been learning how to care for my natural kinks and curls. I can't say it's been an easy journey. Some days I wonder if I'm making the right decision or if I should go back to my perms. Some days I wonder if guys will still find me attractive, will people look at me weird, will people think I'm afrocentric, will black women think I've lost my damn mind for going back to what I was created with? Then I have the days when guys tell me they find it attractive that I can make my short kinks look so sexy/neat, strangers in stores compliment me, and people ask how did I get my hair the way I did. One day I was really discouraged about the new highlights I was trying because the back of my head looked like a rug or tiger striped to me but this Caucasian woman in Macys said, "I'm sorry to stop you but you are so pretty. Your hair is so gorgeous!" That really made my day. I also love stopping and being stopped by other natural women and sharing hair tips! I love exchanging stories about the transitioning phase as well. It's really comforting to know that you're not the only one who feels slightly insecure about having"nappy" hair or rocking your TWA. Anywho enough ranting and raving, I really just wanted to share my transitioning and hair growth journey with you all... 

All my life I had long hair... I was 17 in this picture

                                

I continued to have long hair until I turned 21... This is a pic was taken about a year ago

I loved this hairstyle

Spring Break 2010 in Miami. I cut the sides really low sort of like rihanna

I got the back cut really short and shaved

No sides with a big bang area, loved it!!

....again...

This was the easiest hairstyle ever

I kept the back cut up let the top grow

That way of transitioning wasn't working for me cause I couldn't deal with the "nappy" back and permed front so June 2010 I got braids

 At the end of August I took the braids down but still wasn't ready for my BC sooooo...

... I got more braids

November 5th I took the braids down and this was the results lol! 

The next morning I went to the beauty shop for a hydration treatment and color

I put rods on the ends and pinned it up and VIOLA!

I wanted to see my curl pattern so I washed it

The first style I learned how to do

I tried to blow dry it... hated it!

My first braid out

I really liked the braid out

Checking my growth and trying to see my curl pattern

4th day of my braid out, I had the wild look going lol

Half braid out w/a beanie in the back *lazy day style*

Another look...

After a rainy cold day in Chicago 

At this hair Meet N Greet in Chicago, it was an amazing experience!

Me and Ms. Vaughn, she's awesome

Freshly done braid out

Headed to the club w/my bestie in Chicago

After meeting all those lovely natural women in Chicago, I came back to school and BC'ed immediately! 

Look at me go...

 I was actually shocked at what I was doing!

The aftermath of it all... bye bye permed hair!

I was afraid to show off my little hair so I braided the front and wore a beanie for like a week

One day I got bold enough to wear it curly

The infamous braid out never fails me :)

CURLY KINKS :)

LOL! One of my bestfriends and I playing around at the mall

AND here I am today, 100% natural. I did a twist out that came out wild and funky, perfect!                 

Hair Update

Hey all! I just wanted to stop by and show you an update of my hair. Someone told me to work with your hair and not against it and I think I'm going to stick to the protective braid out for a while until the back gets a little longer. The products I'm using so far includes Carol's Daughter Shampoo and Conditioner when I decide to wash my hair with Garnier Fructis leave-in conditioner for color treated hair. I also use that leave-in for my co-washes. For moisture I use Shea Butter and Carrot Oil mixed or Extra Virgin Olive Oil. While styling and doing my braid out, I use Eco-styler gel or Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Gel mixed with Shea Butter. So far, my hair has more shine, is more manageable, and more appealing to me. Let the journey continue :) Be blessed my loves!

Transitioner's Thoughts

Hey everyone! Remember when I thought I had that free week to catch up on blogging....WELL! Boy was I wrong!! That week ended up being crazier than the week before. Then last week was my official Midterm week and I had Fall Break. I went home to visit my family. I love my family to death but that five hour drive can be tiresome at times. I did get to do alot of shopping with my mom though. I missed those times considering I hadn't been home in about two months. When we get together, we can do damage in a mall... ESPECIALLY during a purse sale... fashion is my weakness!! On my way back to school, the weather was HORRIBLE!! We had tornado warnings throughout the state, which meant plenty of rain and high winds that sent my truck on a bumpy five hour drive. Glory be to God because I made it back safely.

Sooo what do you all think?

Ok, now to talk about the topic of the day: TRANSITIONING!! I took my braids down after two months of wear and tear and have been trying the transitioning look... it's alot harder to deal with than I thought! I haven't had a relaxer since the end of May (almost 5 months) and the two textures are weird. I also see why people say fire your beautician because my beautician from home colored my hair, which turned out gorgeous as usual but I asked her to 2-strand twist it... which turned out as a disaster so I immediately went home and tried different things to do with it. I'm on day 6 and I'm starting to second guess my decision. I really feel like a crack addict or something because I constantly have battles with myself over getting a perm or not. I feel like I'm weak to the creamy crack! I keep telling myself to hang in there and be strong but GEEEEESH it's hard. I also think back to the days when I was experimenting and learning how to do permed hair and how great I felt after I understood how my hair worked. I keep saying to myself, "If you could get through that, you can definitely get through this." I think tonight I'm going to wash it and blow it out...I'm not sure yet... I don't want to flat iron it because I don't want to mess up my growing curl pattern or put too much heat on it besides maybe blow drying it. Does anybody have any tips or helpful advice to survive this period?

I was trying to show off my earrings here lol! I love these!!