So I did my first straw set this weekend. OMG, I can finally say I am thankful for fine, thin hair. It took me hours to do this....if I hand thick hair, I'd probably still be setting in on the staws. I'd wondered why hair dressers charged so damned much to do this style....well now I can certainly understand.
I love the out-come. Check up a close up of my avatar to see a better picture of the set.
I was afraid it would be super fuzzy, so I broke my no heat rule and sat under the dryer for 30 minutes on the coolest settings. Next time I'll try no heat at all and I think it will be fine.
Not sure how often I'll wear this style since it takes so long to do, but i can guarantee you will see it again. Later.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Co-washing? Hmmmm....does that really clean your hair?
So this past weekend,I did my first co-wash. Co-washing simply means you use conditioner to wash the hair. By co-washing, you avoid the harsh "moisture stripping" that goes along with washing the hair with shampoo.
"But isn't your hair still dirty with just using conditioner instead of lathering up with shampoo?"
Actually no. Most of what you are washing from your hair anyway is building from the 50 million products you spritz, spray and slather on between washings...oh yeah, don't forget fried on if you apply direct heat will using these products. If you workout, sweat is pretty much washed out of your hair with just rinsing anyway.
Since I decided to go natural, I don't use many products on my hair. After washing, I use a light leave in conditioner. For roller setting, I use a little Organics Loc and Twist Gel. Throughout the week, I use shea butter...not sure if this is the best thing for moisturizing (still learning about my hair so we'll see.) This means I have very little buildup...and since I'm still not working out the way I should (that's a whole other issue), I'm obviously not having to wash out lots of sweat.
Unless you are in an environment that lots of pollutants are constantly settling in your hair (but I think you should be more concerned about your lungs at that point) or you are just out wallowing in mud, co-washing really should be enough to clean the hair. If I find my hair seems to have some buildup that co-washing is not getting rid of, I'll do a quick shampoo just to break up the buildup. But then if I'm getting buildup, I really need to find out what is leaving it and stop using that product.
"But isn't your hair still dirty with just using conditioner instead of lathering up with shampoo?"
Actually no. Most of what you are washing from your hair anyway is building from the 50 million products you spritz, spray and slather on between washings...oh yeah, don't forget fried on if you apply direct heat will using these products. If you workout, sweat is pretty much washed out of your hair with just rinsing anyway.
Since I decided to go natural, I don't use many products on my hair. After washing, I use a light leave in conditioner. For roller setting, I use a little Organics Loc and Twist Gel. Throughout the week, I use shea butter...not sure if this is the best thing for moisturizing (still learning about my hair so we'll see.) This means I have very little buildup...and since I'm still not working out the way I should (that's a whole other issue), I'm obviously not having to wash out lots of sweat.
Unless you are in an environment that lots of pollutants are constantly settling in your hair (but I think you should be more concerned about your lungs at that point) or you are just out wallowing in mud, co-washing really should be enough to clean the hair. If I find my hair seems to have some buildup that co-washing is not getting rid of, I'll do a quick shampoo just to break up the buildup. But then if I'm getting buildup, I really need to find out what is leaving it and stop using that product.
Friday, October 5, 2007
You letting your perm grow out....girl I didn't know you had good hair and stuff.
{Sigh} This was a comment made by a sista to me today. When are we going to get over this concept of what textures make hair good vs bad?
For the record I think good hair is any hair that is on your head that is healthy, properly moisturized (and that is moisturized not greased like you are planning to fry chicken later), not split from end to root...or even worse on the floor not because you cut it but because it is shedding or breaking off.
Now we all know where this self hatred of our coily, kinky and yes "nappy" hair began. However we have to take responsibility for continuing to feed the monster. I admit I've done no differently than most and viewed different textures as good and bad. But years ago, I learned that good hair is not a texture...it is healthy hair in any form.
Hey I sound really deep now don't I? LOL. But those of you who know me, know I have my own opinions and to hell with anyone who doesn't like them because it doesn't follow the masses into the easy way of thinking. Simply put, if you don't want to hear what I have to say...ya don't have to read my blog. 'nuf said bout that.
Ok, getting off my soapbox now. Again I am not anti-relaxer....it's just for me at this point in my life, my hair and scalp are anti-relaxer and since I want them both to be happy and stay together for a long time to come, that's what I'm going with. Wish I had not been stubborn and really listened to them before. I got the impression that this sista was saying that unless you have what is considered "good hair" among the masses then you need a relaxer. We have got to get out of this way of thinking. How, I don't know. But somehow we have got to come to terms with this self-hatred of our hair.
Good hair in our community has always meant straight or nearly straight or with a slight wave...but not too wavy, anything else could to easily bump up against being that nasty nappy hair we seem to hate. Oh yeah, if it ain't long, then some folks might also take you out of the good hair category if you are a female. But we also have all these hair type categories, 3b, 4a, xyz or whatever. And this can further complicate the fight. And whoooweee....they're have been some heated ones over hair typing.
Oh, let's talk about that baby hair thing too. How is it that a woman in her 40's has baby hair????? Uh, sorry sista, you ain't been a baby in....30-something years....you don't have baby hair. Simple as that.
Ooops {slides soapbox with foot under the desk} Got distracted with some more ranting...but that baby hair thing is a pet peeve with me.
So I'm gonna get out off here before I find something else to rant about.
For the record I think good hair is any hair that is on your head that is healthy, properly moisturized (and that is moisturized not greased like you are planning to fry chicken later), not split from end to root...or even worse on the floor not because you cut it but because it is shedding or breaking off.
Now we all know where this self hatred of our coily, kinky and yes "nappy" hair began. However we have to take responsibility for continuing to feed the monster. I admit I've done no differently than most and viewed different textures as good and bad. But years ago, I learned that good hair is not a texture...it is healthy hair in any form.
Hey I sound really deep now don't I? LOL. But those of you who know me, know I have my own opinions and to hell with anyone who doesn't like them because it doesn't follow the masses into the easy way of thinking. Simply put, if you don't want to hear what I have to say...ya don't have to read my blog. 'nuf said bout that.
Ok, getting off my soapbox now. Again I am not anti-relaxer....it's just for me at this point in my life, my hair and scalp are anti-relaxer and since I want them both to be happy and stay together for a long time to come, that's what I'm going with. Wish I had not been stubborn and really listened to them before. I got the impression that this sista was saying that unless you have what is considered "good hair" among the masses then you need a relaxer. We have got to get out of this way of thinking. How, I don't know. But somehow we have got to come to terms with this self-hatred of our hair.
Good hair in our community has always meant straight or nearly straight or with a slight wave...but not too wavy, anything else could to easily bump up against being that nasty nappy hair we seem to hate. Oh yeah, if it ain't long, then some folks might also take you out of the good hair category if you are a female. But we also have all these hair type categories, 3b, 4a, xyz or whatever. And this can further complicate the fight. And whoooweee....they're have been some heated ones over hair typing.
Oh, let's talk about that baby hair thing too. How is it that a woman in her 40's has baby hair????? Uh, sorry sista, you ain't been a baby in....30-something years....you don't have baby hair. Simple as that.
Ooops {slides soapbox with foot under the desk} Got distracted with some more ranting...but that baby hair thing is a pet peeve with me.
So I'm gonna get out off here before I find something else to rant about.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Comments modification
My bad, I have changed the setting so that you can add comments if ya want to. Thanks for letting me know. You won't have to sign of for a blogger account if ya don't want to.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Ahhhhh.....is that new growth I see????
About 2-3 months ago, I accidentally started going natural.
"Uh, going natural...what the heck is she talking about?"
Well if you have African-American hair that has been "fried, dyed and laid to the side", you know where I'm coming from. Since I was 12 or so, I have been getting my hair relaxed to get that fresh bone straight look. These relaxer are chemicals and you know if they are strong enough to permanently straighten hair, they can't be good for the hair or scalp.
(Before I go any farther, let me just say that, I am not, nor do I ever plan to be come some natural hair purist breathing fire on anyone that chooses to uses relaxers. At some point in time in the future, I may decide to go back to relaxers. But for me, at this time, I need to get my hair and scalp healthy...and I just don't think I can do that, getting my hair and scalp burned up with the creamy white fire in a jar.)
Ok, where was I before that mini disclaimer. Oh....all of the years of having my hair permanently straightened, all of the heat and all of the many, many, many not so good for your hair products I have used have taken a toll on my hair, but even more importantly, my scalp.
While I have always had fine hair, it has never been this thin. There may be some other underlying causes (going to see a dermatologist) but I think what I've been doing to my scalp all these years has a lot to do with it.
So, how did I end up on this journey to natural hair. My Mom, an aunt, a cousin and a friend of mine have all gone natural and I think most have been that way for about a year or more. I've been tempted to do it, but didn't want to take the time to care for my natural hair...let face it relaxed hair seems to be more convenient.
Around the beginning of July, I was do for a retouch.....but I could not stop rubbing my scalp because of itching...rubbing and that stupid hitting we do to relive the itch. (Why do we do that, it really doesn't stop the itch, does it?) If you've ever been relaxed and made the mistake of scratching even a little bit, ya know the creamy white fire and a scratched scalp should never, never, never meet. The blazing pain you get is like no other and that damned Seabreeze really does not help.
ell a week rolls by, then another week and another and the scratching continues. About this time I'm in a "new growth panic". You know new growth is the enemy to a sleek relaxed look.
There were no huge dandruff flakes or irritated scalp, just itching. Weeks turned into a month turned into two and two turned into 3. Before I knew it I was no longer having the "new growth" joneses. OMG I think I'm finally off the "creamy crack"! I was actually anxious to see more new growth. My Mom has got this sweet tiny tiny kinky coil texture....{Sigh} I don't think I have that texture, not sure I have a little hope, but I don't think it's in the cards for me. I may have enough new grow that someone can look after a fresh was and tell me what they think it may be.
I'm not sure what has happened to me in the past couple of years, I used to be quick to have hair cut to the bare minimum, but I've noticed I've been more reluctant to give up all my tresses. Not that I have long hair, I usually keep it just a little longer than chin length, then I'm off to have it chopped off some. Maybe it is the thinning that has me afraid to have it hacked off.
I decided to transition a few months before going for the Big Chop and having the rest of the relaxed tresses hacked off. I plan to go about 7 to 9 months before the BC. I had 2" cut off this weekened...I'd planned only to to 1/2 to 1 inch a month, but the more beautiful new growth I see, the more relaxed stuff I want gone.
Right now after a gentle wash...oh yeah, I've learned that I, like most African-American women are over-washing our hair. (I'll get to that in a later entry.) I am using Aphogee's Evening Primrose Deep Moisture Shampoo and a deep Cholesterol Conditioner with Shea butter (can't remember the brand but will get it when I go home.) and olive oil.
I shampoo once, twice at the most depending on how much working out I've done over the week. (Note: If I a have a serious workout week, then I do wash twice a week, hate doing this because the whole wash and set thing takes hours.) Then I slather on the conditioner and add some olive oil mostly over the top of the hair to seal in the conditioner. I don't get under the dryer, instead I keep this in for a couple of hours. After rinsing, I throw on a light leave-in conditioner. Then I two strand twist my hair into tiny sections and spiral set them on small perm rods. I use Organics Loc and Twist Gel, only because the relaxed hair doesn't seem to hold up as well without some help. I jump under the dryer for about 30 minutes. Then let my hair finish air drying for a few hours or overnight. If I'm not going anywhere for a while the next day, I'll take the rods out but leave the twists as is. When I'm ready to style, I use some shea butter and gently separate the twists. It makes a cute curly fro.
This is what I plan to do for the duration of my transition.
"Uh, going natural...what the heck is she talking about?"
Well if you have African-American hair that has been "fried, dyed and laid to the side", you know where I'm coming from. Since I was 12 or so, I have been getting my hair relaxed to get that fresh bone straight look. These relaxer are chemicals and you know if they are strong enough to permanently straighten hair, they can't be good for the hair or scalp.
(Before I go any farther, let me just say that, I am not, nor do I ever plan to be come some natural hair purist breathing fire on anyone that chooses to uses relaxers. At some point in time in the future, I may decide to go back to relaxers. But for me, at this time, I need to get my hair and scalp healthy...and I just don't think I can do that, getting my hair and scalp burned up with the creamy white fire in a jar.)
Ok, where was I before that mini disclaimer. Oh....all of the years of having my hair permanently straightened, all of the heat and all of the many, many, many not so good for your hair products I have used have taken a toll on my hair, but even more importantly, my scalp.
While I have always had fine hair, it has never been this thin. There may be some other underlying causes (going to see a dermatologist) but I think what I've been doing to my scalp all these years has a lot to do with it.
So, how did I end up on this journey to natural hair. My Mom, an aunt, a cousin and a friend of mine have all gone natural and I think most have been that way for about a year or more. I've been tempted to do it, but didn't want to take the time to care for my natural hair...let face it relaxed hair seems to be more convenient.
Around the beginning of July, I was do for a retouch.....but I could not stop rubbing my scalp because of itching...rubbing and that stupid hitting we do to relive the itch. (Why do we do that, it really doesn't stop the itch, does it?) If you've ever been relaxed and made the mistake of scratching even a little bit, ya know the creamy white fire and a scratched scalp should never, never, never meet. The blazing pain you get is like no other and that damned Seabreeze really does not help.
ell a week rolls by, then another week and another and the scratching continues. About this time I'm in a "new growth panic". You know new growth is the enemy to a sleek relaxed look.
There were no huge dandruff flakes or irritated scalp, just itching. Weeks turned into a month turned into two and two turned into 3. Before I knew it I was no longer having the "new growth" joneses. OMG I think I'm finally off the "creamy crack"! I was actually anxious to see more new growth. My Mom has got this sweet tiny tiny kinky coil texture....{Sigh} I don't think I have that texture, not sure I have a little hope, but I don't think it's in the cards for me. I may have enough new grow that someone can look after a fresh was and tell me what they think it may be.
I'm not sure what has happened to me in the past couple of years, I used to be quick to have hair cut to the bare minimum, but I've noticed I've been more reluctant to give up all my tresses. Not that I have long hair, I usually keep it just a little longer than chin length, then I'm off to have it chopped off some. Maybe it is the thinning that has me afraid to have it hacked off.
I decided to transition a few months before going for the Big Chop and having the rest of the relaxed tresses hacked off. I plan to go about 7 to 9 months before the BC. I had 2" cut off this weekened...I'd planned only to to 1/2 to 1 inch a month, but the more beautiful new growth I see, the more relaxed stuff I want gone.
Right now after a gentle wash...oh yeah, I've learned that I, like most African-American women are over-washing our hair. (I'll get to that in a later entry.) I am using Aphogee's Evening Primrose Deep Moisture Shampoo and a deep Cholesterol Conditioner with Shea butter (can't remember the brand but will get it when I go home.) and olive oil.
I shampoo once, twice at the most depending on how much working out I've done over the week. (Note: If I a have a serious workout week, then I do wash twice a week, hate doing this because the whole wash and set thing takes hours.) Then I slather on the conditioner and add some olive oil mostly over the top of the hair to seal in the conditioner. I don't get under the dryer, instead I keep this in for a couple of hours. After rinsing, I throw on a light leave-in conditioner. Then I two strand twist my hair into tiny sections and spiral set them on small perm rods. I use Organics Loc and Twist Gel, only because the relaxed hair doesn't seem to hold up as well without some help. I jump under the dryer for about 30 minutes. Then let my hair finish air drying for a few hours or overnight. If I'm not going anywhere for a while the next day, I'll take the rods out but leave the twists as is. When I'm ready to style, I use some shea butter and gently separate the twists. It makes a cute curly fro.
This is what I plan to do for the duration of my transition.
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