Morning TWA Horror Fix: Quick and Painless

Ever had those mornings when you wake up, fully rested, sun beaming, birds chirping. It's going to be a glorious day and you are thankful for being able to wake up to it....but once you pull that satin bonnet or scarf off your head, you are not so thankful for your "Morning After TWA". Bed hair will always plague us, even with our short hair. So flat on certain sides, so dry, so...so frizzed out maybe (hence the pouty face I'm making in the above picture, of me just waking up). There is a solution! Well several. Here are some steps/tips to how I wake up my sleeping fro:

1 - I am not afraid of a little water, so I spritz my hair (not drench) with some water and rub throughout my head starting at the roots. I do it in a "lifting" motion. Some people would use combs, I trust my fingers for this if I don't want to pick out my curls and coils.

2 - After working the water and my roots, I put just a little bit of soy oil from Hollywood Beauty in my hand and work it well throughout my hair, still lifting at my roots. Afterwards I use a little bit of ORS Olive oil and work it well in my hair.

3 - Then I take just a little bit of ORS Coconut oil and work it well through. That's usually it on a lazy day, but if I really want to wake up my hair as in I have somewhere to go. I would use any of the three leave in conditioners: Crème of Nature Strength and Shine, Cantu Shea Butter or Eden Bodyworks Peppermint Tea Tree Hair Milk, in my hair. Work it through.

4 - This is optional. If I feel that I want my curls to be more defined, I use Eden Bodyworks Coconut Shea All Natural Curl Defining Crème. Depending on how much you use, you're hair will be white for a bit till it air dries. I only need a little work and I work it in my hair, till I get the right definition of curl power. Add a bow, or whatever hair accessory and you are good to go!

Well there you have it. The picture at the bottom is my revitalized twa. It looks out of whack since I tried adding a part (guess my hair isn't long enough yet). As well as I was getting ready for the gym to get my work out in. I hope this was helpful until next time!

Haters Gonna Hate: Message to All Newly BC Ladies

This goes out to all the TWA ladies and the ones rocking the fades, who felt like they were on top of the world when they let go of the one worldly desire. Long hair, short hair, any type of hair. BUT then start to lose face from all the stares and jeers, not only from strangers but from family, significant others and friends. We go in thinking the most important people in our lives have our backs, when many don't really and that shit hurts. You think people follow "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" or just lie, something. Then again I rather get silence, then a obvious fake lie.

Originally I got scared of the BC and yes I did plan on long term transitioning (pffft didn't last a year). You think after 8 months I would take that whole time to think, nope! It took only a bad detangling session and one week to cut it. Consulted with some of my friends, half say do it up with enthusiasm while others were like "Uhh maybe you should wait. Are you going to...you know do anything with it? I mean...its going to be super short" and then there's those like a special person aka my bffff, bka my boy who was like "Do it up, let your soul grow" till I actually did it and he's like "Oh...it's short" <---DA FUQ?

This is how I get past all that bull. If you didn't do the BC yet, before you do make sure you research everything to styling, have a positive mindset. Be warned that there will be those close to you that will not like your hair. One thing that helps that if you have a "Not giving a fuck" attitude" which was an attitude I had when I did it. I wasn't shocked or anything. I LOVED my hair afterwards, the curls, the coils, I looooove it! If you already did your BC and facing some problems...scratch them out. If people cannot be sincere and want to say something negative. Cut them out with a sharp sword - You don't need all that nonsense in your life. If your boyfriend/girlfriend/alien acting up. Now understand, they are probably use to your hair being long, and yea it may be different for them to take it in at first. Give it a little time and it may grow on them. If not and they fill the space with  negative comments all the time. They are not for you unfortunately. That's just my opinion. The only time my boyfriend had anything to say about my hair was, we took a trip to the zoo and I picked a flower and was trying to tuck it behind my ears. He yells "You don't have any hair!..." Did I cry? No. Just told him to go fuck himself and walked away. I already had stated I wasn't taking any bull from anyone, that includes him. Slowly he's starting to like my hair as my curls are coming out more. He likes to ask and see if he can touch since he likes the softness.

There are ways to boost up confidence in your hair such as...buying hair accessories or jewelry! Go out and buy some pretty bows, but some nice earrings. Try out some nice makeup, spice up those eyes and lips! Get a saucy outfit, new scarf, spoil yourself if you are able to with the sale rack! It's your journey and no one elses! You do you, the way your hair looks to others is not your problem. If they don't like it, then they can stop looking. God or whatever almighty power built you a body with a neck, you can turn your head to the left, right, up, down, diagonal, minute, 30 degrees north. They can look at something else. Also it's always good to blog about your journey (like I am!), join natural hair pages on Facebook, subscribe to natural ladies on YouTube. Maybe you guys may not be the same hair type, but you can always grab some ideas or work that idea into something you can twist to fit you.

Well that is all I have to say. All I can do is wish everyone the best in their natural journey. Just remember, you are not your hair. Your hair is part of you and it will grow back. Later!

Throwback Thursday came a little early. This was taken beginning of August 2013

Product Review - Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Conditoner

 

 

On a whim I decided to do a product review on this new conditioner, Hydrating Macadamia Oil Conditioner by Organix. After watching some of my YouTube favorites (TellmeBeauty) about the uses of Macadamia Oil. I decided to go out and seek it out. Sally's unfortunately didn't have what I was looking for other than a hair mask. So I continued my quest, till I remembered seeing this conditioner in Rite Aid (and it is also at CVS) and thought to myself that is would be a good co-wash for when my hair is really jacked up.

 

So I went to pick up a bottle at CVS, only $7.99 pls tax and tried it out later that night. The instructions on the back says to leave it in for 3-5 minutes, but of course I want my hair to absorb as much as it can, so I left it in probably for 10 or so. As I was working the conditioner in my hair and scalp, ooooh weee! Man did it feel good! It felt like silk on my head. I did do something a lil different with my conditioning routine. Instead of walking around my apartment, I stood in the shower and let the steam come around for a bit then rinsed out my hair thoroughly.

 

After putting my usual oils and leave in, I'll say I am quite impressed with this product. My hair even before putting all the extra dressings, was soooo soft and subtle. I guess it does pay forward to spend a few extra dollars on a good conditioner. Organix has my vote on this product, though they do have a plethora of others as in coconut milk, argan oil, cherry blossom etc. I'll put a list of ingredients below, as well as a link to the company website. Well that's all for now, until next time!

 

Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Conditioner

13fl oz

Ingredients:

Aqua (DI Water), Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycol Stearate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Parfum, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris (Bamboo) Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter (Cocoa Butter), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Leaf) Extract, Panthenol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Red 40, Yellow 5.

 

 

http://www.organixhair.com/

 

 

 

I'm declaring today Fro Friday. Why? Because I can!

 

 

 

Wash Day Routine: Deep Conditioning - The Smooth Criminal (Reload)

(Due to my accidental click or swipe on my phone as I was clearing out my drafts. I somehow accidently deleted my wash day routine. Here it is once again)

Hey ladies and gents! Jess here again! I thought I would share my routine that I go thru on my wash day. Hopefully you'll find some helpful tips, or think to try a new product that I use for your own hair. My wash day is noth that much different with my TWA (tweenie weenie afro for those who don't know) other than me having to wash in sections before I did my BC. Other than that here goes nothing:

1 - Since my hair is short now, I don't take as long as I use to before in the bathroom. I say now my washes are 30 minutes or less. I wet my hair all the way through with warm water, then lather up with the shampoo using Crème of Nature Argan Oil Ultra Moisturizing -Sulfate Free- Shampoo. Now I know some ladies love the sulfate for that "clean feeling", I know my hair can handle sulfates, but I choose to give it a fighting chance by not using it. I massage hair/scalp for a few minutes, playing with my curls, making a mohawk since I am a huge dork, then rinse it all out. If you didn't get all of the shampoo, don't worry you'll get it all after the conditioning period.

2 - After washing, I use a packet of Crème of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Deep Conditioning treatment, getting it all over the coils and curls. I gently detangle using a wide tooth comb, now pause for a moment - Ladies and gents if you are newly natural and don't have a wide tooth comb. Don't even think to using that itty bitty fine comb through your hair. Fine combs are like the Grim Reaper to natural hair, unless you like rocking a few bald patches, I strongly suggest in taking that loose change in your pocket and purchasing one.

3 - When I'm done detangling I put a plastic cap on, or if you don't have plastic caps you can be generous to the planet and recycle. Use plastic grocery bags, it works the same. Since I do not have a hooded dryer, I use a regular blow dry on med-high heat (occasionally use the cool button on my dryer), and rotate around my head for 15 minutes. Now the minimum is 10 minutes for conditioner to latch on to the hair follicles. You can go longer than the allotted time if you choose, but that is your own risk. I go for 15 minutes max with the deep conditioner. After that time has pass, I thoroughly wash out my hair under warm-cool water.

4 - I rinse everything out, I pat my head to get all excess water out, slap on my Turbie Twist and go about my day in my apt. Now some don't know this when they dry their hair. When drying be -gentle- since most towels are not microfiber. You can't go all gung ho with your hair. All of those hairs that you assume are just shed hairs on your towel, can be the end result of you rubbing your head like a maniac.

5 - Once my hair is a little more dry, but still damp I apply soy oil from Hollywood Beauty, working it through my hair with my fingers. Then I use one or two of the three conditioners. It works for me, not sure if it will work for someone else: Crème of Nature Argan Oil Strength and Shine Leave In (obvious enough that I like the CON line), Cantu Shea Butter Leave In and Eden Bodyworks Peppermint Tea Tree Oil Hair Milk. I work the leave in through my curls and coils, making sure every strand gets it dose. Lastly I use a little bit of Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Hair Lotion through my hair, getting everything worked in. Viola! I'm done!

Now I do hope that I have given some ideas, a way for people who might of been struggling with how to wash their TWA and with what. I won't say that it's a guarantee the products I use will work for you, but it doesn't hurt to try right? Here's a nice tip for those who have a hard time getting some nourishment to their scalp.

What I did was purchased a color applicator from my local beauty store (which would be Sally's), I put whatever liquid oil I want to apply to my scalp in several areas on my head. I use my fingertips to massage the oil, spreading it all over. Now you have to give your head a nice rub down, no quickies or else you'll find oil dripping down your face, neck, ears etc. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below. Well folks, I wish you well. Stay positive and happy washing!

 

Top: Before

Bottom: After (Few hours after BC)

Introduction? Whaaat?!

Helllooo out there! I thought I give myself a proper introduction so everyone won't be all like "who is this chick?" Well hope you like a short story and blah blah.

My name is Jess, Skittles, that weird quiet girl over plotting our murder over there and occasionally Ashley (since people say I look like an Ashley?). I won't be too elaborate because describing myself to the T is not my forte. I'm just an average young brown woman trying to get thru in life, trying to find my place in this crazy world. Of course I probably screwed up my chances of having an identity among people, since I have NO HAIR. Ok ok I do have hair but it's in the form of a short baby fro, which will keep coiling, curling, growing outward like a Chia Pet (totally love them!), but who cares what others think is to which why I was able to start on my natural hair journey.

When I was young, just like every young woman of my kind, we would dread the wash day that would revert our tresses to nothingness, and then get that hot comb, press -n- curl, whatever may be. I remember I would hide from my grams, I lost count on how many times my scalp was burnt along with my ears. It all stopped till I got my first chemical treatment at the age of 10, which continued 14yrs till I decided on December 7th, 2012 that this process has to stop. I use to have so much hair, so much life in my roots. I didn't think of what was going on, all I cared was when I'm getting my next relaxer to kill my unruly roots.

As I got older I got wiser in other areas, but was so naïve about my hair. I was blind to the damage, thinking that it's ok for my hair fall out a little...but not leave strands on my pillow, sink, clothes almost everyday. "My hair just shedding" <--complete denial I was in. It's ok for it to burn a lil bit, the scabs will go away, or my edges will thin a lil bit but will grow back. I watched my hair get shorter....and shorter...watch my ends crunch up, thinking its the way I've been sleeping, when it was when I was constantly applying heat all the time. It was when I was tagged in some facebook photos and compared them to photos years ago, that I saw the damage that was done and thought something's gotta give.

I tried transitioning before beginning of 2012, but got so scared about going thru with it, I ran for that chair and that creamy crack. I felt so ashamed of myself, but after reading on a natural forum site and some blogs, the same females that have big beautiful natural hair, went thru the same issues and fell off the bandwagon not once, twice but many times! It's hard to uproot yourself from a routine performed so long, so take time and research. Which is what I did to better prepare myself. So I stopped the perms when I was ready last year, just let my hair grow out. I slowly dropped the frequency of the flat iron, learned how to deep condition, which products are yay or nay. I was feeling good about this journey, but of course like many I wouldn't big chop.

Oh lordy I would have a heart attack if I cut my hair. I swore up and down that I wouldn't. I would only chop if my hair was long enough. So I long termed transition....which only lasted till August 2013 after having a horrible detangling session. I was doing my regular shampoo and DC as I always did each week, this time it was different. My hair knotted up so much, it didn't matter how I approached it or what I put in it. I had a handful of hair staring at me in the sink, I nearly damned choked! I had sat myself down to think, and I felt that it was time to let go of my hair. That was my problem, worrying about what others would think so I was like "damn everyone else. Hair grows back". On August 27th 2013 I did my BC. My beautician's daughter thought I had lost my mind, nope I had opened my mind. It took a few hours to watch my hair go from shoulder length to nearly damn bald is what my cousin told me. I thought I would hate it, be shocked, cry but I loved it! Like LOVE IT!

Many of my friends love it (and if they lied I still thank them for their compliment. It's the thought that counts). But the one person who I wished I've gotten more positive feedback was my boyfriend. He took one look at my head and was like "...It's very short..." and then became a lil withdrawn. Which is to be expected, I wouldn't blame him if I came up to his house with hair two buzz cuts away from being his length. Slowly but surely he's getting use to it, even likes touching it sometimes, complementing on how soft it is.

Well that's my long story. Although I am newly natural...I still don't always know what the hell I'm doing. All I can do is follow on how my Chia Pet of hair feels, give these curls and coils some good good luvin' and always keep researching and learning. Learning is a growing process, it never stops. I hope that not only to use this blog to document my journey, but to inspire other females wanting to leave that burning sensation of the head, that it's ok. It's just hair, it will all grow back and damn what's in those magazines.

Skittles signing out!

Pardon my dust

Please pardon my dust as I clean up here and there. I was recommended this site to use in documented my hair journey.  Hopefully I will have something useful to post (as embarrassing photos of me and my friends. Something haha) other than a blank page.