Sunday, November 15, 2009
Hair pics from the wedding
Sorry that it took so long but I finally got around to finding a picture of how I did my hair for the wedding that I was in. It is a side view but this is the only one that I have until the professional shots come in. You get the idea!!!
Day 65 But it's a LOT of work!!!!
Anything worth having at all is worth working for and waiting for. So quit your whining!!!!! I have met some interesting people since I have started my natural hair journey. Some are fellow transitioners and some are already natural. From those who are transitioning I am constantly hearing this, “Girl, I don’t know how much longer I can take this? My hair is a lot of work.” Of course transitioning is a lot of work. You are working with two different textures of hair and trying to hide one while providing the proper care for the other. Yes it gets frustrating at times and of course there are days when you just want to slap it in a ponytail but ya can't.
To maintain the proper mindset about my hair I just think about it this way. I compare HAIR care to HEALTH care. Yes, it is sooooo much easier to just go out to eat, head for the drive through or do a grab an go. However, it is so much BETTER for you to go grocery shopping and cook at the house. Is the later concept more work? HELL YES!!! I know this all too well because I grocery shop for my produce and essential items once a week. I do the HEAVY duty grocery shopping once a month. My husband and I sit down plan out my meals, yes all three and 2 snacks, and head to the store. When we get home we separate all of the meat, trim the fat, season and place in freezer bags and label which meal it is for. We then clean all of the produce and herbs that we bought and store them properly. Does this take a long time? Uhm, yeah it does. How long? Well, excluding the trips to the store it takes me about 2 hours to put it all away, organize the meals, clean, season and store it all. Is it worth it? YES. I know what I am eating everyday for a month!!!! I don't have to come home after working all day and figure it out. I don't have the urge to stop and get some UNHEALTHY meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner because I have already figured all of that out.
I have applied this same “no think” philosophy to going to the gym. I have figured out a routine that works for me. On Sunday I only do cardio and core workouts, no weights. While on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday I do cardio and weight training. On Saturday's it depends. Sometimes Saturday is like Sunday and other times, I go twice a day. Once for cardio and core training and if I choose to return later in the day it is for weight training. Wednesdays are my day to come home from work and do NOTHING (also it is my co-wash day). Now, this works for me and my lifestyle. Now, am I dog tired after working all day? Yep, but maintaining could health is important to me so I make the time.
Now, let's apply these same principles to maintaining your hair when transitioning. Once I started transitioning I picked 2-3 styles that I knew I could do quickly. DO NOT VARY or try to be "interesting" and change it up. It will just lead to heartache and pain. Yes, I do get tired of the same ol THANG but that is why I do one of the styles for 2-3 weeks and then switch it up. I have also found a routine that works for me with maintaining my hair just like I have found one for eating healthy and working out. When I come home from work/working out, I shower and do whatever it is that I need to do to my hair. If I am just maintaining a style, I will re-roll or bantu knot any places that need help and put on my satin bonnet. If it needs a co-wash I do that, sit under the dryer (low setting) for 20 minutes and then bantu knot the whole head or rod set the whole head. I save all of the heavy duty stuff for the weekends when I not only have more time but I am also less tired so I can take my time and not damage my hair. Honestly, it really isn't taking me anymore time than it did when it was relaxed. Yes, the night ritual was less time consuming because all I had to do was wrap it. However, in the morning it was a 20 minute process. Now I spend like 10 minutes at night if I am just doing a touch up curl here or there each evening. So it is a matter or where am I spending the time. Personally, I would rather sleep 20 more minutes in the morning. On the midweek co-wash, yes, it is more time but while I am under the dryer I catch up on emails and all of that kind of stuff. This routine works for me. Since most of my life was pretty much regimented, when I started to transition finding s routine was not that difficult.
The trick is to find a routine that works for your lifestyle. All things healthy are a lifestyle change and must be treated as such.
Peace, Love and Healthy Routines
~GNH~
To maintain the proper mindset about my hair I just think about it this way. I compare HAIR care to HEALTH care. Yes, it is sooooo much easier to just go out to eat, head for the drive through or do a grab an go. However, it is so much BETTER for you to go grocery shopping and cook at the house. Is the later concept more work? HELL YES!!! I know this all too well because I grocery shop for my produce and essential items once a week. I do the HEAVY duty grocery shopping once a month. My husband and I sit down plan out my meals, yes all three and 2 snacks, and head to the store. When we get home we separate all of the meat, trim the fat, season and place in freezer bags and label which meal it is for. We then clean all of the produce and herbs that we bought and store them properly. Does this take a long time? Uhm, yeah it does. How long? Well, excluding the trips to the store it takes me about 2 hours to put it all away, organize the meals, clean, season and store it all. Is it worth it? YES. I know what I am eating everyday for a month!!!! I don't have to come home after working all day and figure it out. I don't have the urge to stop and get some UNHEALTHY meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner because I have already figured all of that out.
I have applied this same “no think” philosophy to going to the gym. I have figured out a routine that works for me. On Sunday I only do cardio and core workouts, no weights. While on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday I do cardio and weight training. On Saturday's it depends. Sometimes Saturday is like Sunday and other times, I go twice a day. Once for cardio and core training and if I choose to return later in the day it is for weight training. Wednesdays are my day to come home from work and do NOTHING (also it is my co-wash day). Now, this works for me and my lifestyle. Now, am I dog tired after working all day? Yep, but maintaining could health is important to me so I make the time.
Now, let's apply these same principles to maintaining your hair when transitioning. Once I started transitioning I picked 2-3 styles that I knew I could do quickly. DO NOT VARY or try to be "interesting" and change it up. It will just lead to heartache and pain. Yes, I do get tired of the same ol THANG but that is why I do one of the styles for 2-3 weeks and then switch it up. I have also found a routine that works for me with maintaining my hair just like I have found one for eating healthy and working out. When I come home from work/working out, I shower and do whatever it is that I need to do to my hair. If I am just maintaining a style, I will re-roll or bantu knot any places that need help and put on my satin bonnet. If it needs a co-wash I do that, sit under the dryer (low setting) for 20 minutes and then bantu knot the whole head or rod set the whole head. I save all of the heavy duty stuff for the weekends when I not only have more time but I am also less tired so I can take my time and not damage my hair. Honestly, it really isn't taking me anymore time than it did when it was relaxed. Yes, the night ritual was less time consuming because all I had to do was wrap it. However, in the morning it was a 20 minute process. Now I spend like 10 minutes at night if I am just doing a touch up curl here or there each evening. So it is a matter or where am I spending the time. Personally, I would rather sleep 20 more minutes in the morning. On the midweek co-wash, yes, it is more time but while I am under the dryer I catch up on emails and all of that kind of stuff. This routine works for me. Since most of my life was pretty much regimented, when I started to transition finding s routine was not that difficult.
The trick is to find a routine that works for your lifestyle. All things healthy are a lifestyle change and must be treated as such.
Peace, Love and Healthy Routines
~GNH~
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Day 62 To straighten or not straighten...
Yep, another rainy day. Pretty soon I am going to have to call up Noah and find out how he built that ark.
But I am no longer pissed on rainy days. Sure, I would love to be home all curled up napping or reading a good book but I don't have to run from the rain because I am afraid my hair is going to get messed up. I just really no longer care. I just go with the flow. Whatever my hair wants to do that day I let it. Today it wanted to be big and poofy and that was cool with me. It just didn't want to part on the side or middle. It just wanted to stay all together and be big and curly. Oh, when I rolled my hair yesterday after I co-washed, guess what....my "new" hair can now go around the roller. It doesn't make a full turn yet but it is pretty darn close. I was so excited!!!!
Okay, now where was I? Oh, so yeah, I love the rain and love my big ol hair. Now, a friend asked me today if I was ever going to straighten it again. I told her maybe, but not anytime soon. I am so scared to straighten my hair that it is not funny. I have heard (AND SEEN) too many horror stories about people who can't get their curl pattern back after they straighten. I do NOT want that to happen to me. I would be all kinds of pissed it my curls didn't spring back. I mean, don't get me wrong, I know that it doesn't happen to everyone and those who have the issue may not have used any kind of heat protection or they may have been straightening for months/years with no breaks. However, I know 3 people who after either the first or second time of straightening never got their original curl pattern back or experienced areas/patches of straight hair. No for now I say no thanks, I'll pass. I like my hair just they way that it is and I am super excited about what it will eventually look like. I already think that the curls are awesome (most of my back it natural).
Peace, Love & put that hot comb DOWN!
~GNH~
But I am no longer pissed on rainy days. Sure, I would love to be home all curled up napping or reading a good book but I don't have to run from the rain because I am afraid my hair is going to get messed up. I just really no longer care. I just go with the flow. Whatever my hair wants to do that day I let it. Today it wanted to be big and poofy and that was cool with me. It just didn't want to part on the side or middle. It just wanted to stay all together and be big and curly. Oh, when I rolled my hair yesterday after I co-washed, guess what....my "new" hair can now go around the roller. It doesn't make a full turn yet but it is pretty darn close. I was so excited!!!!
Okay, now where was I? Oh, so yeah, I love the rain and love my big ol hair. Now, a friend asked me today if I was ever going to straighten it again. I told her maybe, but not anytime soon. I am so scared to straighten my hair that it is not funny. I have heard (AND SEEN) too many horror stories about people who can't get their curl pattern back after they straighten. I do NOT want that to happen to me. I would be all kinds of pissed it my curls didn't spring back. I mean, don't get me wrong, I know that it doesn't happen to everyone and those who have the issue may not have used any kind of heat protection or they may have been straightening for months/years with no breaks. However, I know 3 people who after either the first or second time of straightening never got their original curl pattern back or experienced areas/patches of straight hair. No for now I say no thanks, I'll pass. I like my hair just they way that it is and I am super excited about what it will eventually look like. I already think that the curls are awesome (most of my back it natural).
Peace, Love & put that hot comb DOWN!
~GNH~
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Day 60 - Alright ALREADY!!! and if I am counting right 100 DAYS
100 days down and 230 more to go before I chop it off. Yes, it has been 100 days since my last creamy crack application. I deserve a medal, a day off, a cash bonus...SUMPIN'. Can I get a high five please? I guess I will just have a well deserved glass of wine and put my feet up.
I know, all good things come to those who wait, but I am tired of waiting DANG IT!!! I want to be done with this transition process. Yes, I could just cut it off and go with what I have right now but I don't think that I am ready for that. People at the workplace are already asking me like 5 million questions about my hair (damn u Chris Rock!!) so if I showed up there with a buzz cut, TWA or some other microscopic amount of hair I think that heads would roll.
I am just so excited to see what my natural hair is going to look like. I remember what it use to look like back in da day, but I wonder if it is going to look the same as it did in high school and even just a few years ago (well, like 8) when I was rocking my hair natural (not so proudly then though). Oh, I did finally purchase those head wraps I was talking about last month. I got two of them and they will be a must on the weekends.
I also finally got a nice hair maintenance regimen down. Since this two texture thing was making me want to run for the hills I decided that I would co-wash on Wednesday's and pre-poo and all of that on Saturday's. This is going to help a lot since I do workout HARD and all of that sweat build up on the scalp is not good. Also, my hair is super thirsty and needs the water and conditioner. I am still using coconut oil, shea butter, vitamin E oil, carrot oil and Infusium 23. Another item that I cannot live without is the Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti Breakage Serum. It is the same line as my shampoo and conditioner. Love this stuff. Right now it is a STAPLE item since I do have the two textures. I use this when I take down my Bantu Knots. I have also come to the conclusion that I will have to just stop being so darn anal and deal with whatever my hair looks like in the morning. I have been manipulating my hair too much so I had to take a good hard look at the situation. So I decided that after I wash on Wednesday/Saturday I will rock the bantu knot outs on the first day and when it starts looking rough then I will have to floss a head band. After that, when it is looking even rougher, (is that a word?) it will just have to pull it back into an afro puff which I will pin to hide the rubber band and I will slap on a decorative scarf and keep it movin'. Not ideal, but right now I have to work with what I got.
I know, all good things come to those who wait, but I am tired of waiting DANG IT!!! I want to be done with this transition process. Yes, I could just cut it off and go with what I have right now but I don't think that I am ready for that. People at the workplace are already asking me like 5 million questions about my hair (damn u Chris Rock!!) so if I showed up there with a buzz cut, TWA or some other microscopic amount of hair I think that heads would roll.
I am just so excited to see what my natural hair is going to look like. I remember what it use to look like back in da day, but I wonder if it is going to look the same as it did in high school and even just a few years ago (well, like 8) when I was rocking my hair natural (not so proudly then though). Oh, I did finally purchase those head wraps I was talking about last month. I got two of them and they will be a must on the weekends.
I also finally got a nice hair maintenance regimen down. Since this two texture thing was making me want to run for the hills I decided that I would co-wash on Wednesday's and pre-poo and all of that on Saturday's. This is going to help a lot since I do workout HARD and all of that sweat build up on the scalp is not good. Also, my hair is super thirsty and needs the water and conditioner. I am still using coconut oil, shea butter, vitamin E oil, carrot oil and Infusium 23. Another item that I cannot live without is the Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti Breakage Serum. It is the same line as my shampoo and conditioner. Love this stuff. Right now it is a STAPLE item since I do have the two textures. I use this when I take down my Bantu Knots. I have also come to the conclusion that I will have to just stop being so darn anal and deal with whatever my hair looks like in the morning. I have been manipulating my hair too much so I had to take a good hard look at the situation. So I decided that after I wash on Wednesday/Saturday I will rock the bantu knot outs on the first day and when it starts looking rough then I will have to floss a head band. After that, when it is looking even rougher, (is that a word?) it will just have to pull it back into an afro puff which I will pin to hide the rubber band and I will slap on a decorative scarf and keep it movin'. Not ideal, but right now I have to work with what I got.
Anti-Breakage Serum (LOVE IT!!)
My FAVORITE shampoo and conditioner
Peace, Love and TIRED OF WAITIN'
~GNH~
Monday, November 2, 2009
Day 52 - I just wanna scream
I wish I was done with this transition process. For a brief moment and I do mean brief moment I wanted to relax my hair. See, when I started this process, well, when I commited to this transition process it was near the end of the quarter, I didn't have a lot of work to do and I was going to be off work for 3 weeks. Now, with teaching 3 classes and all of the demands of field trips (our school is big on those), planning the 8th grade graduation and class trip I just ain't got the energy at the end of the day to deal with my head. If I wasn't so particular I could make the bantu knots last 3 days but I am picky. Plus, my hair is really fine and soft so after sleeping one night on it the curls start to wave BYE-BYE. I am not one for sleeping pretty either. When it is time to go to sleep I am OUT!!!! Plus, it has been raining cats and dogs here everyday so that isn't helping. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just want to scream!!!! I know, I could cut it all off but I really don't think that I am ready for that just yet. I just keep telling myself if I can make it 6 more weeks I will have 5 weeks off work and I won't have to comb my hair.
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Peace, Love and Patience
~GNH~
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Peace, Love and Patience
~GNH~
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Day 51 - So I saw the movie and....
Okay, so I went and saw the movie/film "Good Hair" and let me just say that it was not INFORMATIVE AT ALL!!! I guess with all of the hype and press I was expecting something different. This movie, in my opinion, was pure entertainment (yes, I know that is what movies are for) and there was no substance. With a title like "Good Hair" I was at the BARE MINIMUM expecting the movie to talk about where the title came from and why it is such an issue in the black community or at least have Madam C.J. Walkers name mentioned. I guess once again momma was right, if you want to learn something you have to pick up a book and get from in front of the TV. Yes, I know that Chris Rock is a comedian and entertainer so I should not have had such high expectations. Also, the topic is too huge and too complicated for one movie to cover comprehensively. Personally, I just feel like other ethnic groups are going to come away with a worst perception of blacks than they already have.
Okay, here are the things that stuck out to me:
I’m one who believes all hair is good hair (as long as it is clean and you love it). I’ve worn my hair in so many different ways it should be illegal. Right now I am going back natural. Why? cause I want to. Health wise is it better for me at this point in my life. I am not one who is intolerant of someone else’s hair style choice. What you do is your business. In summary, when it comes to hair, you need to just do you. Whether that is straight, braided, weaved, relaxed, locks, twists, fro whatevah!!! It is what it is. Ya know.
Peace, Love & Fro's
~GNH~
Okay, here are the things that stuck out to me:
- INSIGHTFUL - I thought that the comments by Rev. Sharpton were very insightful. He talked about economic retardation. How we spend all of this money on hair care but we are not putting the proceeds back into the hands of other blacks. We have been stupid enough to let the Koreans take over the market. He referred to hair in ways that I had never thought about. “Putting on your economic retardation and oppression each day, combing it each day….” It was truly something to think about. I wish I could remember word for word what he said, but I was meditating and digesting the words as he said them so....
- SO SAD – What I found heart wrenching was all of the people in India who are giving their hair to the Gods and it is being sold. Do they know this? How dare we exploit the religious rituals of a group of people! SHAME SHAME SHAME on the weave wearers and the people who are actually selling the hair. Then there are those who steal the hair while the women are sleeping or watching a movie. And get this, it is okay because it is not a crime. WTF!!! Stealing is stealing right?!?!
- POWERFUL – Then there was Tracie Thoms who said something very powerful. She said this "I decide to wear my hair the way it grows out of my head, and it’s considered revolutionary". That's what I'm sayin'!
- DISTURBING – That the young girls are already so brainwashed that they believed natural hair was “unprofessional” and dissed their friend who was rockin’ a fierce fro. Then there were the 2 & 3 year olds who get relaxers I am not even going to comment because we all know how I feel about that.
- EVEN MORE DISTURBING – The salon owner who had a policy of letting customers put the weave on lay away. SAY WHAT?!?! To me that is just plain predatory.
- DISTURBING AND GROSS – The Hollywood hair stylist who said he recycled weaves of celebrities. How many heath code violations is that?
- STUPIDITY - That whole Bronner Brothers show and all of the parts of the movie that went along with it. STUPID and not needed. Ugh!
- HEART FELT - The story of Sheila Bridges who has alopecia —she was so beautiful with her bald head.
Peace, Love & Fro's
~GNH~
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Day 48 - Why would she say that?
Okay, so now that I am not so PISSED anymore, I can write about this is a calm fashion. When I was at the wedding this past weekend I saw a lot of my relative that I had not seen in a long time. Some of them I had not seen in well over 15 years. So it was nice to catch up. However, as we all know, there is always that one (or two) relatives that you MUST love from a distance and of course I encountered "the one". My niece was there (my brother’s daughter) and she is almost 2. Very few if any of these people had ever seen her. Let me just say if you have not seen pictures of her you must check her out. She is so damn cute I can't stand it. Anyway, after the wedding was over, we were all just hanging out in the church waiting on pictures and stuff. My niece was standing on the pew holding my hand and one of my aunts was talking to me. She then looked down and said (about my niece) and I quote "Woo-Wee....we gone have to take a straightening comb to this" as she was rubbing Chloe’s curls. I know I gave her the dirties look but come on now. First of all HER head is always a slam mess so how dare she talk. In my 33 years of living I have never even seen it look halfway decent. Secondly, my niece has the most beautiful hair I have ever seen. Her curls are da bomb. I am so jealous of her right now.
It is like I posted before, it is the older generations that have given us a complex, well at least me. I mean really??? I straightening comb? SHE AIN'T EVEN 2 YET??? Plus, there is no freaking need!!!!!!
Lord help me.....calm.....10, 9. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...okay I am better. Now I must go moisturize and put on my bonnet.
Peace, Love and DANG IT SHE IS 23 MONTHS OLD
~GNH~
It is like I posted before, it is the older generations that have given us a complex, well at least me. I mean really??? I straightening comb? SHE AIN'T EVEN 2 YET??? Plus, there is no freaking need!!!!!!
Lord help me.....calm.....10, 9. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...okay I am better. Now I must go moisturize and put on my bonnet.
Peace, Love and DANG IT SHE IS 23 MONTHS OLD
~GNH~
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