KinkyCurlyCool

Checking IN

2011-11-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Well...4 months...no relaxer! I am currently in a sew in! My hair is SO short it's hard to wear it any other way right now. I promise to be back with pics soon! I can not wait to be back on the other side! :-)

Guess who's back?

2011-08-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

I am starting my transition! I was going to wait until after the wedding...but I think I am just going to get my roots flat ironed as needed here on out!

Be on the look out! More updates to come!

KinkyCurlycool is back! :-)

Big Hair Issue!

2011-05-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

OK...so I have ADHD...self diagnosed. But check it out. So, I relaxed and cut my hair October 31 2010 after losing thickness to a medication my physician prescribed. I have been rocking and loving my short cut....but....

There is a void. :-) I am a natural girl at heart! SO.... I am trying to decide WHEN I am going to transition back to natural hair. Here are my choices:

1. After my wedding in October
2. NOW
3. As soon as my back is a little bit longer to withstand a ponytail

I have NO idea how my hair will be for my wedding day... All I DO know is, I can not WAIT to be natural again. With hair as short as mine, the transition should not be very long at ALL. When it's cut, my hair grows very fast. Sad part is, my FI loves my hair cut. Maybe I will rock the cut until I say I do to look special for him on that day....then after the honeymoon....it's all natural baby!

Update

2011-03-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

Well...a lot has changed since April 2010. For one...I am not longer natural! :-/ Bittersweet!

I am engaged...and I am about to start a new job!

Since I am no longer natural, I decided to start a new blog to continue documenting my wonderful journey through life.

I hope to return to natural hair...so I will not close Kinky Curly Cool....but for now.... you can find me and my new sassy short relaxed cut at

www.hotpinkdelicacy.blogspot.com

Weight Loss Update

2010-04-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

So, I have less than 30 days until my cruise. I recently decided to get very serious about my weightloss. Not only because of the cruise, but because I have a closet full of clothing that I can not fit.

How do I plan to lose this weight? Two ways, weight watchers and working out. I recently joined a local gym. The facitlity is REALLY nice and has an awesome childcare center as well as several activities for my son. One of my biggest challenges in working out is childcare. My son is 8 and can not accompany me on the treadmill. I love that my new guy has a childcare center than is open until 9 on most nights. They also have swimming lesions for the little one and se veral other activities he can enjoy while mom is working it out.

Weight Watchers
The beast. While many make it look terribly aeasy, the truth is, it isn’t. Why isn’t it easy? Because weight watchers is not a crash diet or a quick little diet that helps you lose so many pounds. Weight watchers is a lifestyle change and it takes some time to get acclimated to things.

I am starting my third week on weight watchers and my fourth week of working on (second week in the gym…first two I was doing it the old fashioned way outside). So far my progress is as follows:

Weight Loss: 2.8 pounds
Inches lost: 2 inches from waist

I have not been consistent with measuring anything but my waist. Maybe when things get good and my clothes start fitting better I will be more detailed with my stats. For now, this is it Jack! 

Biggest Challenges for this week:
Limiting my WINE and MARGARITA intake (a girl is stressed)
Finding a better way to deal with Stress
Keeping SUGAR out of my mouth (evil cupcakes and gummy bears)

Conditioner Only Please

2010-04-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

So....I am taking a break from the weaves. While sew in weaves are a great protective style, they are also very hard on the pockets. :-) I am also back in the gym working out. So it's kind of hard to keep a straight/perfect weave doing allot of cardio and sitting in a sauna and steam room.

I have been wearing my hair in a phony pony that I ball up into a bun. I make sure to coat the ends of my ponytail with S curl and Shea butter.

Well today I decided to wear a puff. I don't like wearing my puff as much anymore because it has gotten so thin. Well the ends are thin, my new growth is mega thick. I have found that hair doesn't need the gel or curling creams. I can put plain on conditioner in my hair (after my conditioner wash) and get just as many defined curls if not more. I am eager to see how my hair is at the length that it is now...with lots more thickness. If my hair had not thinned and were are the length that it is now...I would be having a style field day. But such is life...it is only hair...and it will get there.

Update: 3 More months of Sew Ins

2010-04-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

hheeeeyyyy peeps!

So....I have been in sew in's since my last post. I have not been consistent with my supplements or topical agents. I have just been lettin things do what they do. Well I took my weave out a little early this time and I was pleased to find that my hair is starting to thicken back up. The down side to that is the ends and MOST of my legnth is terribly thin. Birth control was not my friend. :-(

I am sitting here with Henna and Amla on my head. I will start back with these powders in hopes of getting my hair back into shape. Once I gain 4 to 5 more inches I will cut the legnth off...which sucks because I am a little beyond APL.

I will do a better job of updating....just a little down about my hair these days.

I WILL make a come back from this thin ugly hair. LOL

Update on my Hair: 3 Months of Consistent Sew In's

2010-01-17T20:14:00.000-08:00

Hello friends!

Well it has been 3 months of nothing but sew in's for me. I recently discovered that my hair was shedding due to birth control. My hair has thinned out tremendously and has me very sad and depressed.

Well I had my last weave for about 5 weeks and decided it was time to take it down. I asm scared to keep the weave for too long because I am deathly afraid of my hair dreading up. Well I took my hair down and got good news and bad news.

The bad news....
It is as bad as I thought. My hair is VERY thin. I have been taking supplements and using MT topically in an effort to nurse my original thickness back. I also have to apologize to my beloved henna. When I started losing hair, I blamed it on henna. I was so sure that henna made my hair fall out...well henna may have stolen my curls but it did not make my hair fall out...birth control did!

The good news...
I am pretty much APL (arm pit length). My goal was to make APL by April. Well now I would like to see FULL APL and a decent amount of thickness. My hair success is bittersweet because although my hair is much longer....it is too thin for me to enjoy it. :-(

So....what does this mean? Well I am actually still dieting and working out (trying to shed the extra pounds also a result of the BC) so right now, it is best I keep my hair curly. Although my hair is thin....the curls are beautiful! I have no clue what my hair type anymore...but I love my curls. I am slowly nursing my hair back to health and I am confident that by summer....I will be able to wear my hair out again.

The verdicts on weaves? A keeper. I will definitely be weaving back really soon. I am going to take a few weeks to give my hair a little TLC. And then...back in sew in's I go. At the rate my hair is growing...with the help of weaves.....I just MIGHT see BSL (bra strap length) for Christmas!

Have you nursed your natural hair back from "thinning"? If so, please share your experience. I need all the tips I can get. Although I don't wanna...I promise to take pics of a piece of my hair stretched to show the length and the curls just for fun before the next 48 hours is up (curly deep conditioning with Aussie 3 minute miracle) :-)

Fish Oil and Weight Loss: What is the connection?

2009-12-10T21:40:00.001-08:00

Benefits of Fish Oil for Fitness and Health

When the words oils and fats are mentioned, health-conscious individuals tend to run for cover. What they fail to realize is that there are good fats and bad fats. Complete avoidance of intake of oils and fats would actually be detrimental – rather than beneficial – to their health.

The Truth about Fish Oil
Essential fatty acids must always be part of our daily diet – without them, we take one step closer to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAS.

Although there are only very slight differences to distinguish the two groups of essential fatty acids from each other, studies have revealed that too much intake of omega-6 EFAs can lead to inflammation, blood clotting and tumor growth. The good news, however, is that the opposite is true for omega-3 EFAs. Omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils while omega-3 EFAs can be found in fish oils among other foods.

Omega-6 vs. Omega-3
Physicians and scientists are of the same opinion that the cause behind increasing cases of heart disease, hypertension or high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, premature aging and certain kinds of cancer is none other than an imbalanced intake of omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs.

As mentioned earlier on, omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils. This includes but is not limited to corn oil and soy oil, both of which contains high amounts of linoleic acid. Omega-3 EFAs on the other hand can be found also in marine plankton and walnut and flaxseed oils. It should be significant to take note that fatty fish and fish oils contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fatty acids that have been observed to provide many benefits to the human body. In the early 1970’s, a study on Greenland Eskimos have revealed that one of the major reasons why they rarely suffer from heart diseases is because of their high-fat diet (mainly composed of fish).

The two essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are also helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, depression and various forms of cancer. Fish oil supplemented food have also proven to be useful in treating illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Raynaud’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Other Benefits of Fish Oil
There are a lot more illnesses and situations in which intake of fish oil has proven to be significantly beneficial.

Making the Heart Healthier
The heart is inarguably one of the most important parts of our body and having an unhealthy heart means having to suffer a rather limited lifespan. Naturally, it’s in our best interests to keep our hearts happy and healthy and one way of doing that is eating food that contains fish oil.

In Athens, Greece, for instance, a study was made to show if there was a direct relationship between high fish diet and inflammation of blood vessels. The results revealed that those who ate more fish than the others had a lower level of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, factors that are commonly used to measure likelihood of blood vessel inflammation. These benefits remained even when the various risks associated with high fish diet were taken into account.

Fish to Become Thin
In Perth, Australia, a study had revealed that fish consumption can be used against hypertension and obesity. Researchers of the UWA (University of Western Australia) have discovered that a weight-loss diet which includes a regular amount of fish consumption can be quite effective in reducing blood pressure and improving glucose tolerance.

Fish Oil to Combat Asthma
People suffering from respiratory problems like asthma tend to be perceived as unfit and unhealthy. They should now be pleased to learn that certain studies have revealed the benefits of fish oil for asthma-burdened-individuals. Statistics show that approximately 20 to 25% of children today suffer one form of asthma or another at a certain point in their lives. And certain evidence reveals a regular diet of food with high linoleic acid content as the reason behind it.

Researchers of UW (University of Wyoming) conducted a study by subjecting a number of children to a high-fish diet while others continued with their regular diet. Results revealed that the participants who ate more fish were less prone to asthma attacks and were able to breathe more easily as well.

Consult Your Nutritionist Now
Nothing is good when consumed or used excessively but complete avoidance of a particular food type is equally harmful as well. Ask your nutritionist for the right amount of fish intake for your age and health status.

Birth Control and Hair Loss

2009-12-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

If the title of this post made your heart skip a beat...then we are on the same page. :-)

I have been on this natural journey for quite some time now. Maybe about 6-8 months ago I swtiched from Ortho Evra (the hormonal patch) to Loestrin (birth control pill). Well immediately I experienced side effects. As with most other methods of birth control that I have used, I experienced break through bleeding. In addition, I also became very moody and at times even depressed. I noticed over time that I went up a cup size and I also started to spread in my hip area. The man was LOVING this...but I was giving it the side eye. Well the bleeding stopped only to be replaced with terrible cramps. The increased "boobage" and "hippage" turned into all over weight...and although my stomach remained pretty much flat, I went from a 6-8 to a 10-12. Well I still tried to hang in there with it because an unplanned pregnancy would be worse.

Well I have experienced increased shedding for atleast the past 6 months. I initially went to weaves in an effort to discourage any further shedding and just leave my hair alone altogether. Well it was not until recently when I took my6 last weave down and I noticed how thin my hair had become. I then took to the internet to research the effects of weave on the hair. I could not understand how after years of wearing weaves, I was experiencing such thinning. My research did not yield many results.

Well I was also researching weightloss while on birth control. While researching this subject, I learned that many low estrogen birth control pills often cause the hair to thin. I was both elated and livid! Atleast I now know WHY my hair is coming out. I was upset because it took me this long to find out. So am I correct in assuming that birth control prevents pregnancy because it makes you FAT, BALD and CRAZY?!? Seems that way! LOL

At any rate, I am in another weave install (my third) and I am continuing to care for my hair under the weave. I have also stopped the use of hormonal birth control. In an effort to bounce back for the hair thinning as a result of birth control, I plan to implement new supplements into my diet. My new vitamin regime will be:
Fish Oil
MSM
Biotin
B Complex

When I take this install down I will take a picture and then I will compare it six months from now. Will these supplements help me restore my original thickness? Only time will tell!

Missing my Hair: Still In Sew in!

2009-12-03T13:20:00.000-08:00

So I have been weaved up since September and I have MISSED my hair.
When I took my weave down last time, I only wore my hair for about 2 days before I got it reweaved. Although I had two days with my hair, I did not do a length check at all. After wearing that THICK weave...my hair felt SO thin.

I recently discovered that I was losing hair. I could not for the life of me figure out why my hair was shedding so badly. Well I finally figured it out...MEDICATION. I recently switched to a new birth control pill and my body does not seem to agree at all. I will soon post more about the overall affects of different methods of birth control on your body.

At any rate....I liked my weave....not as much as I liked the first one...but I liked it. I used a better brand of hair this time...and I will be saving this hair ro use on a future install.

I have also decided to spend the first 6 months of 2010 in weaves. I am determined to retain some length and reach my hair first and second hair goal in 2010.

At any rate...I am taking my weave down and deep conditioning tonight. I hope that I have something good waiting for me under this weave. In the meantime, here are a few pics of my current do...

Update...Where have I been?

2009-11-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

hey chicas!

I have been busy busy busy...but my hair is still in hibernation. I have decided to give my hair a break and some time to grow by wearing sew in's. I have also gotten HOOKED. I got my last install done about 2 weeks ago and I used Halley's Curls Gentle Wave in 16 inches. I have mixed feelings about it.

I have a few pics and I will definitely update to add them later.

I am still natural...and I still do not want a relaxer. I miss my hair at times and I am eager to do a twist and curl, but I was SO discourgaed by all of my setbacks and the lack of growth. When I do decide to take this weave down, I will be weaving back up. However, I plan to straighten and get a trim before I reweave again.

I am taking supplements and using Megatek (mixed with a few other things) under my current weave. The last weave I used nothing.... but I can not chance a setback due to lack of moisture...so I had to "Do what I know is right" LOL

At any rate...I will make an effoprt to update more with pics...because I still read about tons of hair, weight, skin, diet and fashion stuff...

Until later!

Pic of my new Weave

2009-10-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

As promised.... I signed in for a sec to share a pic of my current do!

I promise to post better ones later!

Where have I been?

2009-10-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

So...I have been MIA for a couple of weeks.

Well for one a chick has been BUSY working 329749328749823 jobs and going to school. It's all good tho because MONEY COMETH! :-)

In regard to my hair....I have given my lovely mane a break and gotten a sew in.
I have a simple sew in with the perimeter and a horseshoe shaped portion in the front left out. I am planning to take this down and get reweaved up in November. Hopefully I can weave it up until sometime in 2010. I am DETERMINED to have long hair come Summer 2010. I will be inching my way to Brastrap August 2010 and Midback by January 2011. Weave....please be my friend.

Pictures to soon follow. :-)

Replacement for My Beloved Kinky Curly Curling Custard

2009-09-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

For those of you that follow, you know that I have had a love hate relationship with KCCC lately.
Somtimes KCCC can produce perfect silky spiral curls for me....other times it produces a stringy sticky mess. I recently tried Kinky Curly Curling Custard on my twist out and was quite pleased with the results.

Even before I purchased KCCC, I always got good results with Eco Styler gel with Infusium 21 leave in under it. Well the problem with this was I always ran out of Infusium SUPER fast and it was a chore to keep some in my closet. So I strayed away from this...

Well after reading naturally curly I read about Long Aid Curl Activator and how awesome it was....so I gave it a try. TOTAL bust. My hair felt SUPER greasy...and my curls did not clump at all..

Well recently I was reading on naturally curly that someone puts long aid curl activator on their hair BEFORE EcoStyler Clear. Well I have always used the brown Eco Styler....So I FIRST tried the clear Ecostyler alone....HATED IT.
Next I tried another curl activator under the brown eco gel.....It looks good. I was pleased...

Well yesterday I picked up MORE long aid curl activator and did the following:
Washed in shower with Aussie Moist
Put about .50(two quarters in palm) worth of Aussie MOist in my hair as a leave in...
Then put .75 of Long aid Curl Activator in hair
Pulled .75 of Clear Eco Styler gel thru my hair

Results...
Perfect Ringlets and awesome smelling hair!
It looks REALLY similar to when I first tried KCCC and it is MUCH cheaper. If you like KCCC and need something cheaper or you are out and can not order right away...this combo may work for you.

I will try it a few more times then include some pictures...

Freebie fromAveda!

2009-09-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

Join Aveda's Birthday Program today and get a free, full-size product on your birthday!

Another Successful Twist out!

2009-09-03T09:05:00.001-07:00

The Braid out/Twist out Drama continues

2009-08-31T06:55:00.000-07:00

So, I have pretty much master the braid out/twist out...but EVERYTIME I try to wear it to the office it is busted.

I am SO distraught today...
A whole day of ugly hair.

Can't wait to get home and redo on dry hair...

Loving my curls Pics added

2009-08-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

So....I washed out my press.
It was nice...but pressing takes some of the bulkiness out of my hair that flat ironing leaves.

I did a twist out and I LOVE it.

Here are a couple of pics...The pic in the blue is the second day hair! :-)

***Edited to add pics****

Beauty Salon Update: Pressed Hair

2009-08-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

As planned, I went to the salon on friday. I was VERY nervous and was really hoping that I would not leave looking like Cousin Pearl. Well. Here is my experience:

I arrived at 5:30 and she immediately had the shampoo girl start on me. After a conditioning treatment, she lightly blow dried my hair on a warm setting. Once my hair was 80% dry, she placed me under the dryer. After sitting there maybe 10 minutes, she got me out. She then gave me a good ole press and curled my hair with some marcels.

When she whipped me around I could not hide my smile! I LOVED it. It looked light and bouncy. I had MAJOR movement. Unfortunately the humidity stole my curls before I made it home...but once I wrapped my hair...it was silky and bouncy.

I will DEFINITELY be back in two weeks. My hair is not the length I would like, but it is nice and thick and a decent length.

Me happy!

Flax Seed Oil: Is it really beneficial

2009-08-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

A few months I vitamin supplement shopping. I know that I had read several positive reviews on Flax Seed oil and Omega fatty acids. I decided to give Flax Seed a spin!

Well I took it off and on for a few weeks without even reading up on it to see WHAT the benefits are!

Well today, I decided to do a little research. I found that Flax Seed is a healthy fat that is very very beneficial to us! Some of the benefits of flaxseed are:

healthy hair and nails
lowers blood pressure
healthy skin
reduces the risk of cancer

What else could you ask for?!?!

Read more about the benefits of flaxseed oil here!

Split Ends: What causes them? Part 1

2009-08-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

Well, since I am fighting a losing battle with split ends, I decided to do a little research. We all know that before we can FIX a problem we have to first identify the problem and what is causing it.

Since my last trim, I have been depressed so I have kept my hair in a protective bun 90% of the time. I did wear a puff twice. ONLY twice. I sleep in a satin cap and on a satin pillow case. What could be causing my hair trauma?!

Readind online, I have found the following reasons to be the most common causes of split ends:

Excessive use of hot styling tools (irons, hot curlers, blow dryers, hot combs).
Overuse of chemical treatments (relaxers, perms, hair color).
Use of inferior styling tools that rip or snag hair (cheap synthetic brushes or combs, brush rollers, etc.,).
Environmental damage from heat, cold, wind and other climate issues.
Lack of routine maintenance such as regular trimming.
Improper detangling techniques.
Overwashing.
Use of inferior hair care products.
Excessive use of styling products such as gels, waxes and sprays.
Trimming with inferior scissors.

(the above courtesy of hairboutique.com)

After reading this, I have narrowed down the cause of my damage to either:

Too much washing/manipulating my hair. Maybe the daily conditioner washes are just a bit much.

Improper detangling. Perhaps I am doing it wrong.

Use of styling tools. Could my beloved Denman be doing more harm than good?

What am I going to do about it?
Well for startes I am going to get my hair straightened tomorrow. I plan to wear my hair straight 98% of the time. This will eliminate the need of the Denman and detangling as well as daily conditioner washes. My only concern is how to prevent reversion while working out.

Stay tuned for updates.

Look of the day: Satin Dress

2009-08-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

Daily Style Inspiration (styled by me!:-))

Population 436

2009-08-05T08:44:00.001-07:00

One lazy Sunday afternoon I was watching this movie on television. It was SO good. I was upset that I did not get to finish it and have been hunting for it since! I recently found it on Amazon for $2.58! I feel a movie night coming on!

Coupons: $3.50 off $10.00 at Ulta

2009-08-05T07:37:00.001-07:00

Need new shampoo or conditioner?
Been wanting to try DevaCare One Condition?
Need a new flat iron?
Want a new bottle of perfume?
Need new lip gloss?!

Use this Ulta coupon on your next Ulta online order! Happy shopping ladies!

Update on my hair

2009-08-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

So...I have become quite disgusted with my hair and was ALMOST about to cave in and relax. To be perfectly honest, I still MAY relax. I really do not want too...but it appears as though my ends are not fond of textured styles. I got a trim a few weeks ago and already it looks as tho I need another one.

I have decided to seek the help of a licensed stylist and wear my hair straight for a bit. I am UBER depressed about it because I may have to cut my hair again. I got so close to APL only to start loosing length. All I know is, if when I start seeing this stylist I do not see a change....I will be texturizing. My whole reason for going natural was healthier, thicker, longer hair. If I am going to be damaged, I may as well have the conveneince of a relaxer.

At any rate....just sharing my little distraught thoughts...

Half Wig Options for Naturals

2009-07-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

As I stated previously, I am going back to half wigs (instant weaves) for a bit. I have decided to try topical growth agents and supplements to boost my growth rate. Instant weaves will give me access to my hair AND a cute style when I need it.

Most naturals get frustated with instant weaves because they select the wrong wigs. Straight and shiny synthetic wigs are not the best option if you are natural. In order to make your instant weave look as natural as possible, it is best to choose a textured or curly half wig.

In my fotki album, I provide a tutorial on how to install and blend a half wig. Check it out for tips and getting that natural look that you desire.

Here are a few instant weaves that are ideal for natural heads.

Natural Hair Inspiration 07/15/09 - Teyana Taylor

2009-07-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Things I like: Fashion

2009-07-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

OK if you know me, you know that I am crazy about hair and fashion. Lately, I have been jonesing for a Shirtdress. Not sure why, but I am just on the hunt for the perfect sexy shirtdress.

Here are a few that I would LOVE to just show up mysteriously at my door:

New Experiment: Do regular trims make hair grow faster?

2009-07-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

I have been a little distraught for the past couple of days. I decided to straighten my hair and see what I was working with. Well I was very dissappointed. My ends were HORRIBLE. I ended up cutting an inch at home, then going to Super Cuts the next day and getting a professional trim. Because I wear my hair curly 90% of the time, I really did not think I had to worry about split ends. Boy was I wrong. I vowed that I would not clip my ends until I reached my first goal of APL. Well unfortuntely, I would not continue on with those plans.

After getting my ends trimmed and being very unhappy with my hair, I have decided to trim once every 6 to 8 weeks going forward. I refuse to continue allowing split ends to rob me of my hard earned progress. So...I will check back in after 8 weeks, which will be the second week of September. I will take a before pic(can't promise that I will post it now...it depresses me) and an after. After 3 or 4 trims I will revisit. Do regular trims aide in healthy hair growth? What do you think?

Inspirational Natural Hair Pics of the Day : 071309

2009-07-13T14:02:00.001-07:00

Act Like a Lady...Think Like a Man - Steve Harvey

2009-07-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

How many of you have read this book? I have read it twice and I think he has some good points. What are your thoughts?

10 Reasons that I am glad I am Natural

2009-07-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

So, one of my friends is considering transitioning. We have been on the phone for hours over the past few days. I tell all new transitioners the same thing. You need to:
1. Determine WHY you are transitioning. It is easier when you are able to remind yourself WHY you are doing this. For me, it was to obtain healthier and thicker hair.

2. Find some natural hair inspirations in real life AND online. I found people who had hair like mine and I STALKED their hair albums. These pictures really helped me on those days that I felt like relaxing.

With that being said, I decided to list reasons that I am GLAD that I am natural.

1. I can wash my hair and leave the house 10 minutes later.
2. I don't have to spend all day in the salon.
3. No more chemical burns.
4. Most of the styles that I wear do not require rollers. :-)
5. If it rains....I can just restyle my hair and be ok.
6. I don't carry an umbrella!
7. I stand out. My hair is usually different from most folks in the room.
8. If I have a good time dancing, viola....a PUFF!
9. If I decide to go and get my hair straightened, the cost of services in a salon is MUCH cheaper.
10. I have MUCH more versatility.

There are tons more...but I typed this off the top of my head. :-)

For my traveling divas!

2009-07-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

For those of you that like to travel, I just HAD to share this!

Check it out while it is still available!

http://www.thrifty-trips.com/insider-secrets-how-to-locate-deals-without-a-travel-agent

Henna and Twist Out Results Pics

2009-07-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

I am pleased!
Hopefully it gets better each attempt!

Henna Issue: Loss of Curls due to Henna

2009-07-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

I will be the first to tell you about the benefits of Henna for hair. Henna is good for not only natural hair but relaxed hair as well. When I stopped with my henna treatments, I immediately noticed a difference in my hair. My hair was not as thick, I had more shedding and definitely more frizz.

Recently I had a BAD experience with braids that resulted in a minor setback. I decided to use Henna treatments as a means to whip my hair back into shape. This morning/last night I did my third Henna treatment since the braids have been out. I have noticed less shedding, shiny hair, thicker hair and overall healthier hair. Unfrotnately, my biggest and only issue with Henna...is still a large problem. Initially I stopped with my bimonthly henna treatments because my curl pattern was loosening. If you look in my album, my texture has changed allot since I started using henna. In an effort to revive my curls, I started doing Amla pastes every week. I was able to save my curls using Amla.

Well this morning when I rinsed my henna out of my head, I was discouraged when I saw that my hair was pretty much straight. I went ahead and applied lmy moisturizing conditioner hoping to see curls again when I rinsed it out. After deep conditioning for an hour, I was able to see a few curls and waves...more so waves than curls. I went ahead and flat twisted my hair for a twist out and put rollers on the ends of the loose areas (one side of my head is tighter than the other).

I am under the dryer now...and thinking. I will post pictures of this twist out once it dries completely. I also plan to do an amla paste sometime this week in an effort to revive some of my lovely curls.

What about you? What has your experience been with Henna? Have you lost or loosened your curl pattern using henna? I started adding Amla to my henna to prevent the loosening affect but....it didn't work.

What are your experiences....suggestions....

Quest for the perfect Braid out: Part 2 PIcs added

2009-07-09T06:12:00.001-07:00

ALMOST there!

I tried it AGAIN last night and it worked!
Well it worked well enough for me to wear it to work. I will post pics and details later today!

OK details and pics...

Thanks to LAQUITA for suggesting Twist and Loc Gel! :-)

K...I conditioner washed with Olive Oil Replishing Conditioner
Sectioned my hair into ONE in the back and two front ponys.
Moisturized each section with Sheamoisture Leave in...
Added Grape Seed Oil to the ends...
In the back I had 8 flat twists....four on each side.
I rubbed Twist and Loc (or Loc and Twist hell I can't remember..LOL) on each section before twisting.
I put a clip at the base of each flat twist (think neck line) and one at the end of the twist (to elongate) and sat under the dryer for about 35 to 45 minutes...
Laid down and went to bed....

Overall...it came out good. MUCH better than the past. There IS room for improvement...but I am getting somewhere! I am redoing it this weekend! Oh and my hair is SOFT with MEGA body!

Negative points:
Right side is MUCH looser curl wise so it looks wopsided...
Curls not as defined in the back as I would like...perhaps I will split the back of my head into a top half and a bottom half...

At any rate...here are a few photos.
Keep in mind...this is my FIRST successful twist out... I will redo this weekend after I henna and I am hoping each time gets better. :-)

***Drum Roll*** LOL

Inspiring Braid Out Video

2009-07-07T14:22:00.001-07:00

I stal...I mean follow her!

I plan to try this method soon. Isn't her hair gorgeous?!?!

Product Review: MOP Glisten Conditioner

2009-07-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was browing the clearance rack in Ulta (the first No NO) and I found a huge bottle of MOP Glisten conditioner. I was not familiar with this particular product but I have heard good things about MOP mized greens over on Naturallycurly.com. So I decided to get it.

I decided it would be best for a daily CW product, as from readin the label it did not strike me as an ultramoisturizing conditioner.

Well used it...and hated it!
It has NO slip what so ever and it reminds me of Family Dollar brand lotion. You know, you put it in your hands and it is so thin, it feels like nothing is there?

It is so bad, I can't even say I will use the entire bottle. My hair and I just do not see any benefit of using it at all... Feels like I am using water only.

I need it in my life! Louis Vuitton Lockit

2009-07-07T09:28:00.001-07:00

So while in New orleans this weekend...I saw this purse up close and personal, and fell in love.

I MUST have it...
Stay tuned...I WILL have her...and soon.

Mastering the Braid out: Part One

2009-07-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

So...last night I did my henna treatment in a good minute. My hair has started chedding a something terrible and I have just been bad overall.
I was not working with much time so I only left it in for about 4 hours and a 30 minute deep condition.

I tried to create a braid out with Cantu Shea Butter Leave in and Fantasia IC and about 9 braids (cornrows)....
So like...it didn't work. My waves/curls were not defined at all.

So I am going to try again TONIGHT. This time individual plaits and maybe another setting agent.

Any recs?

I am determined to master the braid out THIS month.
I am TIRED of puffs!

Product Review: DevaCare Arc AnGell

2009-06-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I went to visit Ulta. As I told you all, I have been using conditioner only but apparently the money was burning a hole in pocket.

I decided to give DevaCare Arc Angell a try...my hair HATED it. It made my hair siuper frizzy and there was NO curl definition.

So...I will not repurchase this product..

As promised...

2009-06-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics of my low puff...
I am a little depressed when it comes to my hair. I am about to start paying her ALLOT of attention and get back on track with my Henna and Amla treatments...

Anywho...here are a couple of pics...

Product Review: Pantene Relaxed And Natural Moisturizing Conditioner

2009-06-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

So...I have been using nothing but conditioner on my hair this summer. My holy grail CW conditioner that I have also been using as a curl agent is Pantene's Hydrating Curls. Well after reading Honey Brown sugar's review of Pantene Relaxed and Natural's Moisturizing conditioner, I decided to give it a try.

Well we all know that what works for one does not work for all. The conditioner was OK but does not at all measure up to Hydrating Curls or my beloved Hello Hydration or Totally Twisted (but by Herbal Essence)

So....I went back to my Tresseme Conditioner for my conditioner wash and I used the Pantene Relaxed and Natural Conditioner as a leave in.

Guess who....

2009-06-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

Can do a LOW puff!

Me!

That was the next milestone for me! I wanted to wear a puff at the nape of my neck that was sizeable! I will upload a pic tonight!

**Updates**
Lately....Pantene Hydrating Curls is ALL I use in my hair.
So far so good!

Summer Natural Hair

2009-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

So...my one year anniversary of my big chop has passed. I have settled into a routine and become very LAZY. :-)
These days, I am wearing either a puff...or baggied bun. I henna rarely...only if I find the time...which is not often...and I deep condition...never. :-(

I am a very bad girl. I find myself spending more and more time at my SO's place and he hates the smell of henna. So between dealing with him, the kids, school, the 2nd job...and the puppy...my hair doesn't get much time.

My style of choice lately has been a puff. If I am feeling cute, I put a little hump in the top.:-) Boring right?

Products:
I found an old bottle of Salon Selectives Loosely Defined and my hair loved me long time. I sure wish that was still sold in stores...online...anywhere. My hair loved it.

Kinky Curly Curling Custard... I had to give my hair a break from this.

OCT....I think this works...esp when mixed with MN but I need to reup. I have been lazy.

Lately I have been wearing a puff styled with fantasia on my sides and edges and Pantene Hydrating curls on the length. I have attached a pic.

I will be back soon. Hopefully I can take some REAL progress pics soon.

Big Chop Photos....and a sneak peek...

2009-05-28T17:02:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day...one year since the big chop! I decided to post a few pics of me about a year ago right after the chop...

Here are a few crappy camera phone pics...the first one is today... I promis to take better pics soon.

One Year Post Big Chop! My Reflections...

2009-05-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

(My hair a month or so before I did the big chop a year ago)

So tomorrow will mark one year since I have cut off my relaxed ends. I can not believe it has been a year. I am reluctant to take pictures because since the BC I have cut my hair twice and I fear that I will be discouraged by my length.

My thoughts...one year later.
I love being natural. My only regret is that I did not transition and stick with it sooner. I am STILL learning my hair but I have identified some products that work well for me.

What I would do different
Looking back...I would have transition YEARS ago. My transition was very plesant. As I have mentioned I used protective styles and weaves as my staple while transitioning. The only thing I would change...I wish I had discovered Henna and Amla sooner. But other than that, my transition was very pleasant.

Favorite products for my natural hair
Over this past year I have experimented ALLOT. My fav products thus far are:
Dulhan Henna
Reshma Henna
Hesh Amla
Tresseme Conditioner
Herbal Essence Hello Hydration
Fantascia IC Gel
Pantene Relaxed and Natural Mask
DevaCurl One Condition

Favorite style
I thought I would enjoy straight styles more than textured styles. Currently my favorite style is my puff. It is so easy and it looks good. I would love to wear more twisted styles as my hair grows longer... I also look forward to doing more braids outs soon. The only thing stopping me...is laziness. :-)

Well...that's it for now. I have neglected my blog and I promise to come back and update more. I have LOTS to share. :-)

So....

2009-05-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

I am back in love with Henna!

Headed to do a treatment right now...

I am trying to get one of my inspirations to start a blog! Her hair is GORGEOUS! Check her out here and drop her a note encouraging the blog! LOL

http://public.fotki.com/nik-star/

New Online Store at Cyberstylist4u!

2009-05-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Just dropping in to let you know that Cyberstylist4u now has an online store! Right now there are three departments: beauty, shoes, dresses. The store WILL continue growing weeks!

Check it out and let me know what you think!

www.cyberstylist4u.com

Jessicurl After Mother's Day Sale

2009-05-11T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies!

Below is an email I got from Jess over at Jessicurl! Enjoy!

Hi Curlies!
I hope all you mothers out there were appreciated and pampered yesterday in all the ways you should have been! We’ve updated the Featured Specials at Jessicurl.com so if you didn’t get all of the hair products you wanted yesterday, you can get ‘em for yourself now and save!

But before we get to that I want to tell you about the first ever Best Of The Best survey currently being conducted by NaturallyCurly.com. In it you can vote for all of your favorite Jessicurl products and be entered to win free stuff from NaturallyCurly.com. The survey goes through the end of this month so please go vote for Jessicurl at this link: http://questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=1200106

When the winners are announced we’ll be putting winning Jessicurl products on sale, so be sure to vote for your favorites! :-)

Now for the current Featured Specials. For a limited time, get the following savings at Jessicurl.com:
10% off ALL gallons.
Get 10% off when buying all 3 Jessicurl conditioners together. (Aloeba Daily Conditioner, Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner and Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment)
Spend $75 (subtotal) and get a free bottle of Oil Blend For Softer Hair. (Please specify scent choice in the Comments section of the checkout page.)
I’d also like to let you know about a really fun interview I did recently with curly blogger JilliPoo. Jill asked to interview me via email for her blog, but I thought it would be way more fun if we could do a real interview in person and record the audio so she could post that instead. You can listen to the segments she’s already posted on her blog here: http://jillipoo.blogspot.com/ I recommend bookmarking her blog, since she’ll be posting more segments from our interview soon, and, well, her blog is just really cool overall! :-) Thanks in advance for your votes in the NaturallYCurly.com survey, and have a curly day! :-)
Jess

Amla Paste vs Henna Treatment

2009-05-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

I am torn. Tonight is my weekly spa treatment and I can not decide which treatment I want to do. I can say this that since I have started using the Ayurvedic powders my hair is looking GREAT. A few months ago I started raving about Henna. As I have previously stated, I was always afraid to henna my hair because I did not want to change the color of my hair nor did I want to loosen my curl pattern. Well after viewing VERY inspiring pictures on www.curlynikki.com, I decided to follow her lead and give it a try. My first experience with henna was pleasant. My second experience with henna was even better. My third experience with henna left me in LOVE with henna! So I started applying henna to my hair once a week and finally stretched it out to once every 2 weeks.
Well ofcourse my curls started to loosen and my puff was not looking as curly as usual. So hennaforhair.com mentioned using Amla powder in your henna. So I altered my henna recipe to include: green tea,honey, henna and amla powder. The Amla was added to prevent the loosening of my curl and keep my hair color from becoming TOO red. Well it worked. My hair still has/had a reddish tint but it was very subtle.
Well before I even started with henna a friend mentioned Amla powder and oil. I never got into it or even researched it. Well after seeing how well it worked with Henna I got curious. After doing a little research I decided to try it as a paste alone. I mixed Amla powder,coconut oil and olive oil and applied it to my hair for one hour. After I rinsed it out my hair was SUPER soft and MAD curly. I then applied a deep conditioner (last few times I used Elasta QP DPR 11) and was in love. I have been wearing a protective style so all I can account for is:
1. My hair had started shedding allot and it has decreased DRASTICALLY
2. My hair is not a s red anymore...looks similar to my 1B instant weave
3. My curls are POPPIN!
4. My hair feels fuller...but again I am in a bun baggied up. So who knows?

Well both henna and Amla have similar results...one is just WAY easier. I am also not sure if my shedding was from the brand of henna that I used or what...but I do know that Amla has helped decrease that drastically. I also know that if I henna...it will roll over into my Saturday morning. Whereas if I choose Amla I will be done tonight...Hmmmm what to choose.

I am feeling rather lazy and I plan to rreeaaalllyy be into work and watching the game tonight...maybe I will henna ONCE a month and AMLA every week or every other week. But my question is...if Amla is doing me so well...should I really continue with Henna.

Man...color me confused because Henna is also VERY good to my hair. I will let you know what I decide and take photos of my results.

Oh...and before I go. I am happy to report that my edges (temple area) are filling back in. I was looking at my little fuzz this morning. I am SO happy that my hair is obedient! LOL

Oldie but Goodie: Surge 14 Plus Revitilizer

2009-05-05T05:08:00.001-07:00

Back in 2005 or so, one of the most popular hair growth aids was Surge 14 plus. Many people on various hair boards started growth challenges using this product. ALlot of people reported increased growth from the use of Surge 14 plus. Well, unfortunately this product is also discontinued....but guess who still has some?!?
Yeap! Me. I am using it to grow my edges back. I would take pics but it makes me cry to see it...so I will report back in about two more weeks with my progress. Times like this I am SO glad that I am a PJ!

In other news....my SO stopped by last night so I was unable to do my Amla paste. I must say...I can already see a difference in my hair. I can not wait to see what happens with the continued use of Amla and Henna on my hair!

Chlorella...I am still using this as well. I take about 3 pills a day with a Sea Kelp pill. My skin looks GREAT. Haven't straightened so I don't know WHAT my hair is doing...

Will be back later...going to do my favorite thing...wash my hair and dress for work!

Random Thought: Chest Hair in Men

2009-05-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

My friends know me as a very random person. My friend was recently teasing me about how we can be in the middle of conversation of how to cook chicken and I will randomly venture off to another topic that is totally off the wall. So this morning as I was getting my breakfast, I spied a guy with chest hair. This was not your regular chest hair, think back to the 70's. You know the days when men wore their shirts slightly open with the balled up knottly hair showing right below their gold chain? I have NEVER found this attractive. I lost a little bit of love for the very handsome Morris Chestnut when I spied him showing off his lil meat. Yes meat, this hair reminds me SO much of taco meat. You all have heard that before. LOL! So ladies, what do you think? Do you find chest hair in men attractive? My babe is bare chested and I LOVE it. I could just lick his chest! :-)

So I have been missing...

2009-05-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

(my sweet puppy Sky)

Yea...I have been MIA...
Well let's get caught up..

1. I have not had the chance to henna again partially because of laziness and partially because I have been super busy.
2. I have since fallen in love with Amla paste treatments... All the same benefits of Henna TIME consuming. I have only done 2 treatments...I will give detailed information after a little more research. :-)
3. FINALLY finished this SUPER boring course so I am headed to summer session.
4. Work has been crazy as hecks and promotional work has picked up also.
5. I launched a third site...still VERY much under construction..this one is geared more towards my career www.urnestegg.com
6. Still working on and developing www.cyberstylist4u.com...let me know if you have any input
7. I am CRAVING new shoes and maxi dresses...I did pick up a couple of both recently but nothing earth shattering...I will be back with pics later.
8. Still hanging in there with weight watchers...I have lost a total 6 pounds...SO far to go...
9. I was recently hired as a "Dr. Pepper Girl" gotta stay on my grind...

And FINALLY had a girls nite last week. My big babe and took my little babe camping so my pup SKy and I were home alone... Here is a flick from the evening!

I am

2009-04-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

about to cut my hair!

Only in the back. I am unable to wear it in a wash n go because of the shape.

Pictures MAY follow depending on how it turns out...

And...what do you all think of the set up?

I think I am going to change it again...

How to Wear an Instant Weave

2009-04-21T17:26:00.001-07:00

So...I am back in an instant weave. Here is a video of me putting it on (literally lol) and a couple of pics....

Doing homework...promise to be back later.

Pictures and plans!

2009-04-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

As promised I uploaded pictures of the dreaded damage to my hairline. I have also included pictures of the braids. I did not get any hair pics....but I promise to do so in the next day or so.

My plan for my hair....AMLA powder. I am totally loving all of these herbs and the effect that they have on my hair. I did my first Amla treatment tonight and I LOVE it. It is a little early to rave about it...but I am pretty certain that Amla and Henna are in my regimen to stay. I plan to try out a few more powders.... Anyways...here are the pics!

And....a video. **please excuse my eyes...I look cockeyed here...LOL**

The Braids are Out....My edges are gone....

2009-04-19T19:53:00.001-07:00

Yes...you read that right. I took my braids out...I could not take it anymore. As expected, my edges have thinned out. Am I overreacting? No. My boyfriend, who knows nothing about hair, asked what happened to my hairline. Yes...I cried.

So....bootcamp it is...and braids NEVER again. Ladies if you decide to get braids please make sure that they are not too tight.

I will post both pictures of the braids as well as pictures of the damage soon( I have not posted many pics because I spend allot of time at the SO's place.)

Starting...well yesterday...BOOTCAMP. I hennaed my hair (video and pics coming this week) and I will be ding another treatment this weekend. I am also considering an Amla treatment. I have read good things about it.

At any rate...stay tuned and stay away from thsoe TIGHT braiders!

The Baggy Method: A way to protect your ends and retain length.

2009-04-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

We are all on a mission to increase the rate at which our hair grows. We take vitamin supplements, try topical growth agents, increase our water intake, and drink raw eggs all in hopes of boosting our natural growth rate. One of the biggest issues in hair growth is retaining length. Our hair naturally grows every month. If it did not, we would not need touch ups (relaxers and color). Have you ever colored your hair, and it was time to touch up your roots yet your hair was the same length it has always been? This is because just as fast as your new hair is coming in the old hair is breaking off.

What causes hair to break off?
Hair breakage can be caused by:
excessive use of heat styling tools
Cold air (dries hair out or sometimes freezes wet hair)
rubbing up against materials (your sweater or your pillowcase)

So how can we retain length?
Let's take a look at protective styles.

Protective styles are basically just styles that protect your ends. Some examples of protective styles are:
Phony ponytails
instant weaves
Buns
Braids
Two Strand Twists

It is not as simple as just wearing these styles. You want to make sure that your ends are properly mositurized so that they don't get dry and brittle. So how do you ensure that your hair is moisturized? The baggy method.

How do you baggy your hair?

Items you will need:
2 Ponytail holders (ouchless bands)
Moisturizing Agent
Sealing Agent
Baggy

1. Pull your freshly washed hair back into a ponytail with one of the ouchless bands.

2. Coat the length of your ponytail with your moisturizing agent(I use either S curl or a conditioner)

3. Seal your moisturizer with an oil (I use either olive oil or coconut oil.)

4. Put your ponytail in a baggy and secure it with the additional ouchless band.

5. Style as planned (ie phony pony, instant weave, phony bun)

I did a tutorial in my fotki album on how to baggy with an instant weave. You can find it here.

www.fotki.com/tuttifruityone

2.

Weight Watchers - Week One Weigh in

2009-04-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Ok...over all my first week on Weight Watchers went fairly well.

The bad:
I was not good with consitently journaling my foods

The good:
I learned to prepare some pretty healthy foods.

The UGLY:
I slipped up on a Big Mac and fries on the night before weigh in.

All in all...I did well. I lost 3 pounds!

And then got back to my desk and ate half a chocolate bar and a bag of funyuns. LOL BAD GIRL. I will be back on track tomorrow. Goal for next week is to lose atleast another 3 pounds or higher! :-)

And the winner is......

2009-04-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

A week or so ago...I posted a giveaway....

and our winner is....

Erika M!
Erika send me your mailing address and I will get your new Denman Brush to you.

Another give away coming soon.... hint hint...I am headed to the indian store soon.... :-)

Clear Henna : Cassia Obovata

2009-04-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Cassia Obovata
Henna comes in one color which is red. What is advertised as “Clear Henna” or “Colorless Henna” is actually Cassia Obovata. Cassia will give new life to head of damaged hair. Repeated use of Cassia can lead to healthy, shiny, thick and silky tresses. The only downfall is if your hair is gray, Cassia will turn your hair yellow. Be warned, wouldn’t want you to look like a muffet. LOL
Cassia powder LOOKS allot like Henna…but the difference is…stick your finger in a bowl of Henna…it comes out orange…your finger would not turn any color if you stick it in a bowl of Cassia.

What do I mix it with?
I have only used Cassia once and I used it on my cousin. I prepared it the same way I would my henna. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to only use water to mix your Cassia powder with. Well, being the henna head that I am I would still use green tea. Technically it would be null and void to mix your Cassia with something acidic like green tea because the green tea activates the color in Henna. Call me crazy or anal…but I would still prefer my green tea and I would also add a little honey for consistency.

Henna VS Cassia
IMO I think the only BIG difference is the staining of henna. Cassia is known as a “Clear Henna” because it conditions as henna does without the color deposits. However, thru all of my research, NONE of the Cassia results measure up to the results of henna. However, if you afraid of a little color (I was initially myself) I say go for the Cassia. Something is better than nothing right? I must admit though…you are going to eventually bite the bullet and try Henna….and fall head over heels in LOVE!....or is it lust? LOL

Other interesting facts:
There are two type of Cassia. Cassia/Senna and Cassia Obovata. Cassia Senna is different and I am speaking today about only Cassia Obovata.
Cassia has been known to heal skin conditions such as eczema and other skin infections.

This isn’t much but I hope it helps someone. You can buy Cassia at Whole Foods (Rainbow Brand “Clear Henna”) or you can check out this AWESOME site www.mehandi.com and get some GREAT quality Cassia.

A Healthy Diet will lead to a head of healthy hair!

2009-04-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

Companies such as Pantene, Creme of Nature, Herbal Essence and many more make products every day to improve the health of your hair. These products promise to thicken your thin hair or even stimulate accelerated hair growth for others. If you know like I know, you know that this is false advertisement. A product may coat your strands and give the illusion of thicker hair, but it does not truly make your hair thicker. Why? Our hair is nothing but dead cells. It can grow longer as "new growth" spurts out of our scalp, but you can not alter the cells that are already dead.

"You are what you eat"
Don't be discouraged. This doesn't mean that you can not achieve healthy thick hair over time. What you put in your body has allot to do with what comes out of it. If you have a poor diet and lack vitamins and nutrients, your hair will lack shine, thickness and may not grow as quickly. There are a few vitamins and nutrients that are needed for your hair to thrive. They are:

Protein
Protein is essential in cell growth. If you hair is made up of dead cells, it would definately be imperative to have a sufficient amount of protein in your diet. Some foods that are great sources of protein are: lean beef, turkey,chicken, pork, shrimp and eggs. You can also try protein shakes to supplement your diet.

B Vitamins (Biotin, B5, B12)
B vitamins assist in the formation of red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen to all of the cells in your body. Again...better cell development/growth, leads to more hair. Good sources of B vitamins are: shellfish, cereals high in fiber, black eyed peas, trout,spinach, okra, beets and low fat cottage cheese.

These are two of the many vitamins that you would want to include in your diet. In time, we will dig deeper into this subject.

This has to stop.....Joined Weight Watchers today....

2009-04-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

Ok so I know I know...I usually talk about hair... but you can't just have fly hair and everything else be a mess...

So today...let's talk weight. Ok...I am officially over 30 and I am in a happy, healthy relationship. I am assuming that is why I have picked up 10 pounds! SO....what do I do about it?

I joined weight watchers. My goal is to lose at least 20 pounds.
I have a couple of friends that have had very positive weight loss experiences with Weight Watchers. So I am going to give it a try! Wish me luck!

Nine West Shoes at an incredibly LOW price!

2009-04-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

Good Morning ladies!

Our favorite little bargin site has another sale today. Nine West ladies shoes for as low as 14.95! They have several styles available at this price. Now I will be the first to admit that SOME of these shoes look like they cost 5.99 :-) and some are actually cute!

Good luck! Check it out!
http://www.6pm.com/n/search.cgi?q=NW0309TGR

Braids and a Sew in...story of two styles

2009-04-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

Ok...so I mentioned...I have hair ADD. Last week I did the sew in with Brandy's Pro10 Bohemian Curl hair. I liked it...wasn't CRAZY about it...but it was ok.(I attached a picture of it)
AS usual...I wasn't satisfied. It all started last week with a phone call to my sister. She is in hair school an was basically asking me to be her crash test dummy....like a dummy...I said yes. So we decided that she was going to braid the perimeter of my hair in micros...and I would sew in hair in the middle. Well we forgot two things...SHE forgot how THICK my hair is...and I forgot how terrified I am of braids and breakage.
So...here I am two days later and my hair is STILL not done. I am scared because she sealed the ends with NAIL GLUE. She assured me that she went well beyong my hair but it doesn't look like it. If I have a set back....I promise it is not going to be pretty.
I will say this...when I take this down I will NEVER try braids again. It is just too risky. I am getting tons of compliments and it is not even completed. I promise to take pics within the next day or so. In the mean time...pray for my hair please. LOL I am SO serious.

Style of the Day....Braids/Weave

2009-04-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

Ok ladies, I have been bored with my hair. I decided to do a sew in last week with Brandy's Pro 10 Synthetic Weave. Well tomorrow I am going to try yet another style. I am getting the perimeter of my hair braided and the middle will be sewed in. Here are a few pics of what the style should look like:

Do you need a personal stylist...for FREE?

2009-04-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies!

I started a second website that caters to my other love...FASHION!

Check it out and let me know what you think!!

www.cyberstylist4u.com

My first Give Away!!!

2009-04-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

I want to thank you all for taking the time to talk hair with me!

I am starting with the first of MANY give aways. Tonight I am giving away a Denman Brush (D3) to one lucky lady.

In order to qualify, I just need you to email me at mz.jackson@gmail.com and let me know WHEN you started transitioning and why. I will take all the submission and draw one name out of a hat. That lucky lady will receive a free Denman Brush!

Good Luck Ladies!

Hair Myth of the Day: Washing your hair daily will cause your hair to break.

2009-04-01T14:44:00.001-07:00

Howdy chicas!

I grew up thinking that only ladies of certain races could wash their hair daily. I remember seeing daily clarifying shampoos by brands such as Suave and Pantene. I have always washed my hair once every 2 weeks or at the most once a week.

Well as I started my journey for healthy hair (relaxed, texturized and natural) I discovered conditioner washes. I have learned that shampoos (especially those clarifying products) can dry your hair out if used frequently. I read on a hair board about washing your hair daily with conditioner. I was interested and decided to give it a try. It is the BEST thing I have ever done. I said goodbye to dry porous hair and hello to moisturized thicker hair!

Here are a few facts about conditioner washes:

Advantages of conditioner washing

Softer hair
Less Frizz ( usually a result of dry hair)
Less breakage and shedding
More elasticity
Easier to detangle

Some conditioners that are GREAT for conditioner washes:

Suave Tropical Coconut
VO5 Moisture Milks Strawberry Milkshake
Herbal Essence Hello Hydration ** (personal fav)
Tressemme **( What I currently use)
Sunsilk

Things to avoid if you adopt this method:

Silicones
Lots of oil
Not washing frequently

Personally I think ALL transitioners should adopt this method. It makes your hair THAT much easier to detangle and it also keeps the line of demarcation moisturized. You will learn one of the most important factors in healthy hair care is MOISTURE.
Let's add this up...

Moisturized hair = Healthier hair = Stronger Hair = Longer Hair
Does anyone have a problem with longer, stronger HEALTHY hair?!

Although I wash with conditioner only on a daily basis, I still use shampoo. I only shampoo before a henna treatment or when I plan to straighten. I must say my hair feels MUCH different after a shampoo. I love conditioner washes long time... :-)

Transitiong to Natural Hair: Tip of the Day

2009-03-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

Allot of women are afraid to transition to natural hair because of fear. They are afraid of not being pretty! There are plenty of ways to be pretty as you transition. We will look at several ways to preserve your sexy as you transition.

Style One: The Braid Out

This is a VERY easy style to do and it can last anywhere from 3 days to a week. It all depends on how well you keep it.

Things you will need:

Clips

Wide tooth Comb

Setting Agent

Rollers

PATIENCE

Basically you braid your hair in cornrows while it is damp. Once your hair dries, you take it down and you have crinkly, wavy locs. Here are a few pics of me with this style. GREAT transitioning style because the two textures blend well and there is no Reversion.

All my Transitioning Ladies!

2009-03-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

I have a few more tips for my transitioning ladies. We want you all to stay encouraged!

Check out KCurly's blog! She has TONS of information about transitioning to natural hair. She also has a giveaway that ends TODAY!
Please check out her site and enter her giveaway! Her transitioning pack is an AWESOME deal.

http://newlynatural.com/blog/?p=986

Good Luck ladies!!!

Is Your Weave too tight?!

2009-03-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to go ahead and weave my hair up. I promise to take pictures tonight. It was my intent to create a video as I was weaving to help you all learn to "do it yourself".

I decided to weave to give my hair a break. I also just started takins some new supplements and I am eager to see if I get any results. I plan to wear my hair weaved for the next month or two and then straighten June 1st in celebration of my one year natural nappiversary. I hope that I can gain at least 2 inches between now and then. I plan to use OCT and MN on my scalp underneath this weave. I will more than likely go back to weekly Henna treaments in June once I am done with this weaving spell. Anyone that knows me...knows that I have EXTREME hair ADD will I be able to make it until June in various weave styles?

This go around I used my trusty Pro10 Bohemian Curl. I love this hair because althought it is synthetic...it has LOTS of body and looks very natural. I promise to post pics a little later.

GREAT sale on Michael Kors Shoes!

2009-03-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

Ok...I know that we are mostly here to talk about natural hair. BUT...what good is pretty hair if you don't have pretty shoes to go with it?!
I found a GREAT deal. I am pretty sure it is for today only so jump on it ladies!
Today 6pm.com has a GREAT sale! They have select Michael Kors shoes for 39.95! That is a savings of over 50%! If you have a shoe fetish like ME...be sure to stop by and check it out!

www.6pm.com

Happy shopping ladies!

Transitioning to Natural hair: 101 Part 2

2009-03-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did a post on transitioning. I decided to come back and elaborate a little more. If you have not noticed I am VERY excited about natural hair. The only thing I regret about going natural is that I did not do it sooner. :-)

Today let's talk more about No No's while transitioning.

Women like to look beautiful....well most of us do anyway. So the thought of going without a relaxer for an extended period of time makes many shudder. ESPECIALLY in the summertime. Don't fret ladies... there are ways to be glamorous and fly as you journey to natural hair.

1. Colored tresses. A HUGE no no. Some women will start experimenting with different things to reward themselves for staying on track. One thing that I learned quickly and unfortunately PAINFULLY is color is a no no. When you are transitioning, your hair is very weak and fragile. It is also very DRY. Adding color on top of that adds even more stress to your already weak hair. If you want to get a hair cut for FREE...go ahead and color your hair. Nine times out of ten, your hair will break off severely at the line where the relaxed meets the natural. Color CAN be ok...however...you want to successfully transition and make sure your natural hair is properly conditioned and moisturized before you color. Moisture is VERY important in transitioning and being natural. Which leads me to my next point.

2. Deep Conditioning. Your hair needs two things...protein...and moisture. You need both. Protein helps strengthen your hair. Protein deposits into your hair what chemicals take away. Although protein treatments are very much needed. They must be done the correct way. You MUST follow up a protein treatment with a moisturizing conditioner. While protein is good for strength...it can also hurt you by making your hair hard like straw. Moisturizing treatments are needed to keep your hair strong and moisturized. Not only is poorly moisturized hair HARD but it is also frizzy. It has been my experience that the more moisturized my hair is the less frizz I have. Typically protein treatments should be done once every 6 weeks and moisturizing deep treatments should be done weekly. Some protein treatments that I have used are Keraphix (mild protein), Nexxus Emergence (extreme protein) and Aphophee (extreme protein). My favorite ALL time moisturizing conditioner is Pantene Relaxed and Natural Breakage Defense Mask. However I also use Jessicurl Weekly Deep Treatment, Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose and Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner. I also add either Vatika Oil or Amla Oil to my hair when I am deep conditioning.

3. Braids or Weaves. Now now don't be alarmed. There is nothing wrong with braids or weaves as long as your hair is properly cared for while you are in them. Braids took about 3 inches off my hair because I failed to properly moisturize. However, another time I GAINED 3 inches because I took care of my hair. Braids should never be took tight to the point that you need aspirin to stop your head from throbbing. Same goes for weaves. If you are wearing a sew in, your braids should not be super tight under the tracks. This can cause you to loose not only inches but also your edges. This is because the braids are already tight. Then you sew tracks TIGHTLY to those braids putting even more pressure on your edges. When I weave ( I am blessed to have the skill to do my own) I make sure my braids are not too tight and most times I do a net weave to keep from putting all of that stress on my braids and edges. If you are wearing braids, make sure you use a braid spray that lists Glycerin as the first or second ingredient. Glycerin is very moisturizing and will keep the braids from drying and breaking your hair. If you are wearing a weave, it will be a little harder to get to your braids beneath it. Invest in an color applicator bottle (beauty supply for .99) and fill it with an oil or braid spray and oil your scalp/braids once every other day. I usually use Amla or Vatika Oil on mine.

Well I will stop here for today...of course I will be back. :-)

In the meantime, check out my fotki album. I have a tutorial listed there on how to wear and blend an instant weave. These SAVED me while on my transitioning journey. I will be adding more to this album later and I am contemplating creating videos. In the meantime, enjoy!

www.fotki.com/tuttifruityone

Transitioning to Natural Hair: 101

2009-03-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

***I am fully natural now...but decided to venture back to my transitioning days to inspire those that are currently struggling with transitioning to natural hair**

More and more women are going natural these days. There are several reasons that women decide to stop relaxing their hair. Some are:
1. The relaxers are damaging their hair
2. The women are curious as to how much longer and thicker her hair will be in her natural state.
3. The women are curious as to what their natural texture is like.
4. The women are going natural to encourage their daughters that being natural is beautiful.
5. The women are just looking for a different look.
6. Some are going natural just because it is the "In" thing right now.

No matter what your reason for doing it, there is one thing we can call agree on. Transitioning is NOT easy. There are several ways to transition. You can have a short or lengthy transition. You can have a HARD transition or a not so hard transition. Your experience depends upon two things...YOU and what you make of it.

I have personally transitioned twice. The first time I transitioned I was living in Los Angeles and just about everyone in the city is relaxer free. Therefore it was very easy to find a stylist for my transitioning hair. During this transition, I went to the salon every two weeks for a wash, condition and press. I wore my hair out 99% of the time and it was painless. The ONLY reason I relaxed again...was because I moved back to the land of humidity...MEMPHIS. During this time, I was reluctant to wear textured styles. I only transitioned because a relaxer and color had eaten up my hair and left it thin, brittle and short. After 7 months of transitioning I had hair beyond shoulder length that was thick and full of body.

My second transition was MUCH different. I discovered the internet hair boards back in 2001 and I have learned SO much since then. I have had thick and healthy relaxed hair and thick and healthy texturized hair. I am aware that I can have both chemicals and healthy hair. However, I still feel as though my hair THRIVES when I don't chemically alter it. So I decided to attempt to transition AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN only to fail. Here are some of the reasons that I was not successful:

1. Attempting to wear straight styles. When you get past a certain point, it is very hard to wear half relaxed and half natural hair straight. One issue you will face is how WEAK your hair is. You are going to have to put allot of stress on your hair to get that silky straight look and hair with 2 different textures (extremely different textures) is not very strong. When I was doing this, my hair would start to break at the point where the two textures met. Not a good look.

2. Not being focused on WHY I was transitioning. Anything that I do, I try to do it with purpose. If you do not have a purpose for doing something, it is very easy to get off task. I had to first figure out WHY I was doing what I was doing and remain focused on that so that I could be successful.

3. Poor product choice. I have mentioned here several times that I use different products when I wear different styles. My curly hair does not like the same products that my straight hair does. My natural hair does not like the same products that my relaxed hair did. As I transitioned, I continued to use the same methods and products as when I was natural. When I was transitioning, my hair was very dry. Moisture is VERY important in a healthy transtion. I may have been more successful if I did my research and sought out products that worked well with my new texture of hair.

4. Fear. This is by far the biggest. For awhile I was seriously afraid that I would not be attractive with natural hair. All I could envision was "taco meat" lining my hair line. Not..cute. In my simple mind, natural hair was not beautiful. I had to learn to love me...and all of me. Whatever my texture is...GOD gave it to me. So I decided to find out WHAT I have...and nurture whatever that is. It also helped to browse beautiful natural images of women who have similar textures. It would do me NO good to go and view all these silky curls because that is not what I have. Who is to say that kinky hair isn't beautiful? The more kinky albums I viewed, the more I realized that kinky hair is JUST as beautiful as the silky curls. To be honest, once I accepted this LARGE small little tidbit....trasitioning became that much easier.

These are just a FEW of the issues I encountered and conquered while on my journey to natural hair. There are tons more...but I will stop here. You can rest assured that I will be back with more. :-)

* Sigh* Boredom.....

2009-03-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

Well here I am 9 months (or is it 10) into being fully natural...and I am SO bored with my hair. I am tired of wearing puffs, I am too lazy to do a weave, I don't want to wear it straight....So what is a gal to do?

Today I wore it baggied with my phony bun.... but even that is getting tired. Time to coast the web looking for a cute style to jack...

I was considering a weave....but I NEED access to my hair. LOL I will miss her too too much.

Suggestions?

Mizani Moisturefuse - A straight gal's boo

2009-03-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

So..I decided to straighten my hair last night. I was getting bored with the same ole curly puff. As I mentioned earlier, I do not use the same hair care products when I wear my hair straightened. When I am kinky, I prefer one set of products and routines.

When I decide to straighten my hair, this is my regime for full, bouncy straight hair.

1. Wash with Creme of Nature Shampoo (will be replaced soon as it has been discontinued)

2. Deep Condition with Mizani Moisturefuse. I tried this on a whim one day. I must say that it was not a mistake. Mizani leaves my hair super soft, moisturized, light and full of body.

3. Blow dry with a light creamy leave in. Lately I have been using either Lacio Lacio or Neutragena Triple Moisture.

4. I blow dry in four sections. I just added this to my regime..thanks to henna. Henna has my hair feeling SUPER thick..and hard to dry. No complaints here.

5. I then take teeny tiny sections and flat iron.

6. I put a nickel sized amount of Chi Silk infusion in my palm and rub it thru the finished product.

7.I either roll on satin rollers for MORE volume...and end up looking like the Cookie Monster's grandma....or wrapping and have nice bouncy hair the next day.

The above is my regime for straight silky natural hair. 90% of the time I do not even press my roots. I try to use as little heat as possible. Hmmm maybe next time I will create a Youtube video?! Hmmm thoughts.

Battle of DevaCare and DevaCurl Conditioners

2009-03-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

DevaCare One Condition VS DevaCurl One Condition

For the past few months I have been using DevaCare One Condition as a leave in. I LOVE it. It is thick in consistency with a light citrusy smell. My hair DRINKS conditioner and product so I need something somewhat heavy. Although DevaCare One Condition is a heavy conditioner, it doesn't weigh my hair down. My hair dries to be super soft and moisturized and fluffy. This is always a plus.

Well I was about out of my DevaCare One Condition so I headed to Ulta to pick up another bottle. As I was reaching for the product, I noticed DevaCurl One Condition. You would think I would take a second to read the labels and determined what the difference was....but I didn't. In my mind...I wear my hair kinky 80% of the time...so why NOT try DevaCurl One Condition. So...I picked it up...and decided to go ahead and try it out on my puff.

My first experience with DevaCurl One Condition was not positive. I was not please at ALL. It's consistency was similar to DevaCare One Condition as it was also creamy...and the smell was a little different...more perfumy(which I liked). However, though it was creamy, it did not seem to coat my hair like the DevaCare product did. I was about to get discouraged and give it up...and I decided to try it again. This time I used MORE product and I LOVE it. I have decided since to stop using my beloved Kinky Curly and use conditioner only.

The Verdict
Overall I think they are BOTH great products. As far as consistency of the conditioner, they are tied. They are both rich and creamy. A DREAM for porous hair like mine. In regards to smell, I am going to go with DevaCurl One Condition, it smells like I am wearing a fragrance...and I am not. LOL I even got complimented in the elevator on my fragrance. LOL! As far as softness, I am slightly partial to DevaCurl One Condition. My hair and my curls are thriving. So...next time I am in Ulta...I will be reaching for DevaCurl One Condition. However, if it isn't available, it will not be the end of the world if I have to take it's back up instead, DevaCare One Condition.

Beyonce...is that you?

2009-03-18T15:00:00.001-07:00

Though this LOOKS like Beyonce...it isn't. This image is from Ciara's new Video. What do you think? Is she trying to Swagger Jack Bey? Or is she maybe....I don't know.

What are your thoughts?

Look Ma! No Gel!

2009-03-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

I usually load my hair with a couple of conditioners each morning. Then on top of that I add Kinky Curly for definition. I recently added DevaCurl Set it Free to the mix. I would do ALL of this...and then add Aloe Vera Gel to my edges. NO DEALS.

I am a follower of Curly Nikki's blog and her hair is very inspiring. Aside from Henna, one other thing that I have learned from her that the LESS product (excluding your conditioners) the better. Being that I ONLY do conditioner washes 90 percent of the time and only use shampoo when I am performing a Henna Treatment or about to straighten...I really don't need all the gook in my hair.

So today I was brave. When I washed my hair this morning...I decided to ONLY put conditioner (DevaCurl One Condition and Pantene Hydrating Curls) and a leave in (KC Knot Today) in my hair. NO gel NO Kinky Curly Curling Custard. My hair was just as curly as it is with all the other gunk if not MORE.

My only complaint is...though I have definition and minimal frizz(thanks Henna) my hair is not as big as thick as I would like. My hair lacks volume. It is very little. I literally went in the ladies room took down my puff and SHOOK it. It was still small. Not sure why this is...Perhaps I should go back to weekly Henna treatmnents versus bi weekly? Did I make the switch too quickly? Who knows...I am going to go ahead and henna this weekend with a mix of Dulhan and Reshma. I am curious to see if maybe I am not getting the bulk because of Jamila. Stay tuned for my results.

All in all I think I will start just wearing my puff and curly styles with conditioner only. Tomorrow I am going to try using ONE conditioner only. I will more than likely stick with Pantene Hydrating Curls. My hair loves that stuff. Set if Free? I will only use that when I am twisting my hair. If your hair is thin...or lacks volume...you may not want to use this on a wash n go. This stuff made my puff more like a "poot" than a Puff. LOL Really soft...but REALLY shrunken. LOL So....no more Set it Free until I am in twists. The Set it Free along with Shea butter made my hair feel like silk.

B Complex Supplement : A Closer Look

2009-03-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

I have been fully natural for about 9 months now. I have used herbal supplements to aid in my hair care regimen. Over the course of my hair journey( relaxed, natural, and texturized) I have taken the following vitamins:
Biotin
MSM
Vegatel Silica
Horsetail (considering starting back)
Evening Primrose Oil

I am sure there are more, but those are the most memorable. Recently, I added B Complex to my vitamin regime. I currently take:
MSM Powder (when I feel like it)
Biotin 7500mcg
B Complex

I only started taking the B Complex because of the Vitamin C that it contains. I needed the vitamin C to aid in the absorption of the biotin and MSM. I was even more willing to purchase it when I saw that it also contained MORE biotin and panothenic acid(thickness). So I decided to do a little research to see what the benefits of B Complex are.

I learned that B Complex is simply a mixture of B Vitamins. Some of the benefits of B Complex are

- increased energy
- breakdown of fats and proteins
- muscle tone in stomach
- Clear skin and youthful looks
- essential for healthy hair, skin, and nails

Sounds like a winner to me! I know that with the help of my B Complex I see GREAT results with my MSM and Biotin.

Pantene Relaxed and Natural Breakage Defense Mask Deep Conditioning

2009-03-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

Pantene Relaxed and Natural makes one of the BEST deep conditioning treatments. When I first chopped back in May, I had a tough time because of how dry my hair was. When natural hair gets dry, it is a frizzy birds nest that is very hard to work with. Well I hit the hairboards and started reading. I read allot about Pantene's Mask so I decided to give it a try. I fell in LOVE. This stuff has my hair moisturized and feeling like butter. I deep condition with it once a week.

Well, some of you know that all good things do not last forever. Rumor has it that this product has been discontinued! I have started purchasing every jar that I lay my eyes on these days. For those of you that have not been as fortunate...here are a few Amazon sellers that have the product available. One of them even sells 3 jars at once for 14.94! That's great being that I just paid 6 bucks for my last jar! At any rate...stock up and get moisturized curlies!

Trendy Spring Sandals?

2009-03-17T05:04:00.001-07:00

Spring is the time of pretty flowers, pretty dresses and plenty of CUTE shoes! I can not wait to start shopping for my colorful springy ensambles. IN the meantime, I have been all over the place checking out shoes for my spring/summer wishlist. So far I am really liking what I am seeing!

Here are some trendy sandals that I have been eyeing...

If loving Jamila Henna is wrong....I don't wanna be right...

2009-03-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

When I washed my hair last night I was amazed at how thick it has gotten. I am having some slight shedding but my hair is still UBER thick. I am eager to do another Henna treatment but I have one more week to go. It is about time for me to go and order more henna. I have now promised to do Henna treatments for my aunt and a couple of friends. I TRULY believe that Henna is the most slept on hair practice that there is. My loving boyfriend refers to it as "the roots" because of the smell...I tell him to get over it...because if loving Henna is wrong...I don't wanna be right.

I said in previous posts that I would revisit Dulhan or Reshma. I just can't seem to depart from Jamila. I really wish tht I could find it here locally. In the meantime, I will be placing another web order.

Anyways...just up late thinking about hair...until tomorrow.

To go green or not..... Hmmmm

2009-03-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

I am no stranger to growth aids. Whether they are topical or internal, it is nothing for me to try a new growth aid. Well lately I have been SUPER lazy on the growth aid tip. My OCT sits in my linen closet, my powdered MSM sits in the drawer at work, and the biotin and B Complex is taken every other day. Well, the other day I was talking to a hair pal, and she shared her success with Chlorella. Listening her speak about it, I felt that ole familiar PJ tug deep down. So what did I do? I hop on the net and get to researching. A few things about Chlorella caught my eye:

1. Aids in lowering High Blook Pressure
2. Suppresses your appetite (causing you to lose weight)
3. Detoxes your body, therefore your skin benefits
4. HAIR growth! LOL

There were countless other benefits that I will post as time goes on...but for now. Let's focus on those. I will be starting my Chlorella experiment Sunday. I am contemplating adding a sea vitamin to the mix for Maximum results. So I will be back Sunday with the start the "Chlorella" Chronicles and my starting pic. I don't plan to straighten so it will be a shrunken wet pic with one piece stretched. LOL

Toodles!

Can we revisit Skin for a moment?

2009-03-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

As you all know, last year I tried Accutane again. This was actually my second time taking the medication. My first experience was positive so I decided to try it again. Well my second time around was not positive. My skin started to get hard, scaly and dry like a snake. I am not referring to the skin on my face either. So I reluctantly stopped using it. I also experienced a great difficulty actually getting the prescription filled this time. Allot of pharmacies do not carry the drug in my area and by the time it has been ordered my script would expire. I decided that my skin was not that bad anyway so I let it go.

My boyfriend has really clear skin. He has used Clean and Clear antibacterial wash and astringent for awhile. I decided to get some for myself and try it. My skin LOVES it.

My skin is very smooth. Even the small bumps that I had on the bridge of my nose are ALL gone. I have only been using it for a few weeks but so far so good. I will definately continue using the cleanser and astringent. Whenever I decide to wear make up, I make sure to use their Dual purpose mositurizer. So far...so good.

I will update in a month or so with my progress.

Gelly Belly

2009-03-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

So...lately I have been wearing either a puff...and most recently a baggied bun. My routine is very simple. When I am in a puff...I CW daily with a cheapie shampoo...and prepare my hair for a puff. When I am on a phony bun, I CW every other day and put my hair in a pony and add the baggy and the phony pony. One thing that I use for both...is GEL.
Back before I discovered the hair boards, I used Ampro's brown gel like it was going out of business. Well maybe a year or two ago, I discovered Fantasica IC Sparklites. This has been my holy grail when it comes to gel. It gives me GREAT hold, no flaking and it isn't hard as a brick either. Well last week I ran out my beloved Sparklites and decided to try one of my other gels (never tried benefit the counter). So here are my results:

Long Aid Curl Activator
Walmart (about 2 or 3 bucks)

I tried this gel on wet hair and then tied my hair down for the ride to work. This gel gave me GREAT hold. The only issue that I had with this gel was it left my hair feeling greasy and gummy. It was not hard mor crunchy...but VERY greasy and gummy.
I would ONLY use this gel as a last resort. If it does this in cold weather I am scared to see what it does in warm weather.

Smooth and Shine Curl Activator
Walmart (2 or 3 bucks)

I tried this gel and I LOVE it. It gave nice hold and was not at all greasy like the Long Aid. I did not even tie my hair down. I will DEFINATELT reuse this gel. The only downfall of this product was how small the jar is. But other than that...two thumbs up!

All in all...nothing has YET to touch my Fantasia gel. It still remains my FAVORITE and my holy grail. But it is good to know that I do have a back up.

So I have been missing...

2009-02-23T21:21:00.000-08:00

Where have I been? Well I wore my hair straight for a few days...and then I hennaed and wore twist for a day...then I wore a twist out tonight...and right now...I just washed and I am trying a twist and curl.

Wonder how it will come out? All I used was conditioner...hmmmm....
We shall see in the AM What I get. I know these darn laters is making it hard as heck.

Book Review: The Best of Everything...Kimberla Lawson Roby

2009-02-14T10:29:00.001-08:00

I darn near had a heart attack when I saw this book at Walmart. So I picked it up and here are my thoughts.

Kimberla introduces Alica Black Sullivan in this book. Alica, the oldest daughter of the infamous Curtis Black, is all grown up and a newly wed. This book tells about her struggles as a newly wed and how her past contributes to that.

Overall I think this was an OK book. Maybe it is because I have read ALL Roby's books and I expect a little more. The book left me wanting more. A few of the things mentioned in the book did not make any sense to me when considering her story line. I would have liked to see her deal more with what Alicia's issues were that resulted in the problem that she has currently. That did not happen. In this book it was just drama and more drama...but no real resolutions. A few parts of it were also unrealistic. I guess I just expect allot out of Roby. All in all....on a scale of 1 to 10 this book gets a 5. It just did not move me.

Well looky here!

2009-02-14T04:45:00.000-08:00

So....my attempts at a twist out are getting better and better. The pic above is my twist out as of about a month ago.... the picture below is my most recent twist out. Watch out natural world...here I come! :-)

So....I wore twists to work

2009-02-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

Today was my first time actually wearing my "twists" to work. Overall I got a great response. The are holding up well. I have a satin cap on...and I am ITCHING to wash.

I am also looking forward to my next henna treatment.

Here is a pic of my very first attempt at twist taken a month ago (don't view if u are drinking because u are GOING to laugh.)

And you see my most recent pic here....

Now...I still have a ways to go...but...Henna...weekly deep conditioner....and supplements...they are all winners in my book.

Also, here is a pic of me the day after my first Henna treatment...Notice how full my puff is?

As promised....

2009-02-08T19:51:00.001-08:00

Here are a few pics at today's twists. I hope to get a few days out of these...then redo. Right now...twist outs are not my friend.

By Gosh I think I have it...

2009-02-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

So...I tried something new with styling. I have officially grown tired of my puff...and I don't want ot wear my hair straight...soo....I tried twists again. Not really in hopes of a twist out...but to wear as a style... I am under the dryer as we speak...but each time I do them...they get better. I REALLY liked these wet and I am eager to see them dry. Only thing I don't like is that Ihad to use a little fantasia gel for hold...hopefully I can soon step away from that as my hair gets thicker. When its dry I am going to coat it with even more shea butter. GOTTA have uber soft twists...
At anyrate...I will post pics when I am fully dry.... Me excited...I think I have a winner on my hands...

Step AWAY from the shower....

2009-02-07T22:10:00.000-08:00

So....I have hair ADHD...well I prolly have it in general. LOL But I am over my twists...and now...looking at how glossy and shiny my ends are...I want to do a roller set... but me lazy.
Hmmm will I hop in the shower and roller set before bed...or go to bed...and try it later.

Being as though I have had a little wine and I am tipsy...I prolly need to go ahead and go to bed. LOL!

And the results are....

2009-02-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

OK...maybe practice really does make perfect. I still have a ways to go to get where I want to be...but I CAN wear my twists in public now. I could not capture a good pic of the front but you get the idea from viewing these! I will eventually take them down and HOPE for a twist out.

I used no gel...just conditioner. Once dry I rubbed shea butter thru them and sprayed my Joico finishing shine spray on it. My hair is so SOFT! Me love it long time.... Now...if I could just stop with gel and such with my wash n go's.....that is my next goal.

OH! I will also get a pic outside so that you all can see my beautiful "Cherry Coke" color!

Toodles!

Two stransd twist revisted...

2009-02-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

So...after my second henna...my hair is a little thicker than before. So I sat here and divided my hair into four sections. I will take pictures once it dries. I used DevaCare One Condition,Jessicurl WDT (very little) and a tad bit of Giovanni Direct Leave in. As I was twisting, I broke it down into smaller portions and I used Cantu Shea Butter Leave in.

It is still wet but it lookas decent...aside from those irritating layers. Gonna take a quick nap and sit under the dryer for a min...and MAYBE I can wear the twists as a style today and twist out tomorrow...
I will update when I am dfinally dry.

Toodles!

I have a disease....

2009-02-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

and it is called hand in HAIR!

So...I was impatient and could not wait on my Jamila brand Henna. So I used Dulhan Henna... I mixed it with Green Tea, honey, olive oil, a pinch of Vatika Oil and Amla Oil. Over kill right? Well I sat it on my heating pad for like 15 minutes....applied...then left on overnight.
The color is more vibrant. I am a chocolate cherry head gal! Call me Cherry Coke if you would! LOL

When I rinsed the Henna out....I used a mixture of conditioners:
Elucence MB
Jessicul WDT
Pantene Breakage Defense

I left it on for an hour and a half and sat under my heating cap for 45 minutes. Rinsed....CWed with my pantene hydrating curls...and into a puff my hair went.
My.Hair.Is.SO. SOOOFFTT!

I can't keep my hand out of it. Because I had to detangle (and loss very little hair mind you) my curls are not as defined as they COULD be but it still looks and feels great. I will take a pic when it dries.
My hair is ALREADY noticably thicker! I am excited. I am contemplating attempting to twist it tonight...we shall see.
At any rate...another successful Henna application.
My next application will be when I receive the Jamila in the mail. After that I may chill for 2 weeks or so....I think I am going to incorporate Amla into my daily regime for a bit...and start back with my OCT once I get on a Henna schedule. I am VERY excited. My hair feels SO soft and it getting thicker ALREADY. Henna head for life....Henna Head for life.

Just can't help myself...

2009-02-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

So...here I sit with another batch of Henna on my head. LOL
I am SO amazed by the benefits I received the first time...I am eager to see how my hair responds the second time. This time I added oil and conditioner to my Henna mix...I also dyed my wrist and neck orange. LOL My hair did seem to fall lower this time...maybe I detangled better.

Also, I have to say AGAIN how great Jessicurl is. I guess the Olive Oil that I added today pushed the Jessicurl up even higher. My hair was SO freaking soft and big. If I had not hennaed...I would have used it as a DC just to see what I got.

Well...I will update when I rinse this Henna out!

Until later!

KinkyCurlyCool

Checking IN

Guess who's back?

Big Hair Issue!

Update

Weight Loss Update

Conditioner Only Please

Update: 3 More months of Sew Ins

Update on my Hair: 3 Months of Consistent Sew In's

Fish Oil and Weight Loss: What is the connection?

Birth Control and Hair Loss

Missing my Hair: Still In Sew in!

Update...Where have I been?

Pic of my new Weave

Where have I been?

Replacement for My Beloved Kinky Curly Curling Custard

Freebie fromAveda!

Another Successful Twist out!

The Braid out/Twist out Drama continues

Loving my curls **Pics added**

Beauty Salon Update: Pressed Hair

Flax Seed Oil: Is it really beneficial

Split Ends: What causes them? Part 1

Look of the day: Satin Dress

Population 436

Coupons: $3.50 off $10.00 at Ulta

Update on my hair

Half Wig Options for Naturals

Natural Hair Inspiration 07/15/09 - Teyana Taylor

Things I like: Fashion

New Experiment: Do regular trims make hair grow faster?

Inspirational Natural Hair Pics of the Day : 071309

Act Like a Lady...Think Like a Man - Steve Harvey

10 Reasons that I am glad I am Natural

For my traveling divas!

Henna and Twist Out Results **Pics**

Henna Issue: Loss of Curls due to Henna

Quest for the perfect Braid out: Part 2 ** PIcs added**

Inspiring Braid Out Video

Product Review: MOP Glisten Conditioner

I need it in my life! Louis Vuitton Lockit

Mastering the Braid out: Part One

Product Review: DevaCare Arc AnGell

As promised...

Product Review: Pantene Relaxed And Natural Moisturizing Conditioner

Guess who....

Summer Natural Hair

Big Chop Photos....and a sneak peek...

One Year Post Big Chop! My Reflections...

So....

New Online Store at Cyberstylist4u!

Jessicurl After Mother's Day Sale

Amla Paste vs Henna Treatment

Oldie but Goodie: Surge 14 Plus Revitilizer

Random Thought: Chest Hair in Men

So I have been missing...

I am

How to Wear an Instant Weave

Pictures and plans!

The Braids are Out....My edges are gone....

The Baggy Method: A way to protect your ends and retain length.

Weight Watchers - Week One Weigh in

And the winner is......

Clear Henna : Cassia Obovata

A Healthy Diet will lead to a head of healthy hair!

This has to stop.....Joined Weight Watchers today....

Nine West Shoes at an incredibly LOW price!

Braids and a Sew in...story of two styles

Style of the Day....Braids/Weave

Do you need a personal stylist...for FREE?

My first Give Away!!!

Hair Myth of the Day: Washing your hair daily will cause your hair to break.

Transitiong to Natural Hair: Tip of the Day

All my Transitioning Ladies!

Is Your Weave too tight?!

GREAT sale on Michael Kors Shoes!

Transitioning to Natural hair: 101 Part 2

Transitioning to Natural Hair: 101

* Sigh* Boredom.....

Mizani Moisturefuse - A straight gal's boo

Loving my curls Pics added

Henna and Twist Out Results Pics

Quest for the perfect Braid out: Part 2 PIcs added