So I did a thing ... - I GOT LOCS!!!!

So this past Saturday was the culmination of a month's worth of research and over a year's worth of worrying and wondering. I did something that I have always wanted to do. I took the plunge and had a faux loc installation. This is something that I have always wanted to do but didn't want to commit to converting my hair into real locs. I also didn't want to use real human hair. Mine are an alternative fiber. My real hair is natural and short and I want to be able to play with different styles and lengths from time to time. 

Trying something a lil bit different

Back on the 10th, I decided to do something that I had not done since high school. Get some color in my hair. Now for some people they might think what is the big deal. So what? Well for me it's pretty big since I'm usually somewhat conservative when it comes to my hair at least where color is concerned. Where my hair in a big afro? No big deal. Add color.....now you might be asking for too much. So I thought it would be great to do something different to usher in the new year. Hopefully to shake up some older habits of mine. Anything to get my mind off Dumb Trump being our new Commander in Chief. I still can't wrap my mind around that one...

Midwest Natural Hair Expo 2015

 

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be a hair model for my beautician at the Midwest Natural hair expo downtown. So last weekend I did some preparations myself with my nails and face, and then met up with my beautician on Friday to have my hair prepped for Saturday morning. I've been going to Daisha since I went natural and was excited to help her out with modeling Design Essential hair products that were used on my hair.

It's official: 3yrs of kinks and coils

 

So today is my 3rd year anniversary of being natural. To say this has been a year of ups and downs with my hair is an understatement. In all honesty I feel that I have lost more hair than I have grown it. Yet as I look at it stretched out as much as possible I can see a little bit of difference. 

This is on average what I am losing when I wash

This past year I felt things were going down hill about six months after my 2 year anniversary. De-tangling has become a stronger foe as my hair has gotten longer and the hair that comes out is just astounding and frustrating at the same time. Oh and the knots in my hair are just insane! Just trying to keep up with them alone make me nuts. Moisture isn't an issue, I make sure to keep my hair well moisturized with my homemade products.

The following pics were taken this morning after undoing my three strand twists on my hair. My biggest issue is still trying to grow the hair on top of my head. For some reason THAT damn portion of hair doesn't seem to realize I want it to grow along with the rest. That has been one of my huge issues as far as hair maintenance in general.

It's still frustrating that my hair is thin. I can't really do any styles with it and I feel sorry for my stylist because any style she tries on me unfortunately especially with two strand or flat twists really shows how thin (in my opinion) my hair is. I forgot to take a picture of the end result of this style, but my stylist wasn't pleased and had me come back in the next week as a do over. She even did a trim about a inch to deal with my split ends. I normally see her only twice a year, but I'm thinking I might have to step it up with my hair getting longer. My last time seeing her was in March.

Rod sets are better but I realized that the texture of my hair (which feels like light cotton) will not allow for more versatile styles. This was the second hair appointment with two weeks since my stylist wasn't please with the result from when I went to see her the previous week (see pics right above).

Previous pictures from the past year.

February

January (now if I stretch my hair it comes to about my lip since my trim)

January

December

December

December

December - shrinkage still a bitch

November - just voted

I know there are some other factors that have probably contributed to my ongoing struggles with my hair. I've tried changing up my washing patterns, finger De-tangling instead of with a comb at first, stressed out and tired from my main job, side business, and also back in college.When I say I was stretched to the limit this past semester, I definitely was. My eating habits don't help the situation as well, I've heard people say that what you put inside your body reflects what comes out. I'm out of shape and that is putting it mildly. So that is something I'm going to have to tackle as well. At the beginning of the year I was taking Mane Choice vitamins and could definitely tell a difference with my nail growth, but ended up by March stop taking them because I was so busy I would forget to take them on a daily basis. So now with my job somewhat slowing down, I'm hoping I can get back to a routine where I start taking care of myself from head to toe.

Hell at one point I was just so frustrated with my hair and was going to say fuck it and just cut it off and keep it low as a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro). Yet I went to the African Arts festival this past weekend and fell in love with my damn crazy ass afro all over again. Ugh....the struggle. I'm not sure if I should change up the products I use for washing. If I could find a de-tangler that worked wonders I think that would help me out immensely. I've been using Design Essentials and AS I AM products since I became natural and wonder if I should look into something else.  Who knows.......I am open to suggestions so please don't hesitate with dropping any knowledge if you think I need to change up something.

The biggest thing I have to keep reminding myself is not to judge my progress with anyone else. It will get to where it's going when it gets there. It's going to have it's trials and setbacks, but hey, it's only hair:)

Natural Hair Product Review: Design Essentials coconut and monoi Line

So I know it's been a long ass time since I've done a Natural Hair product review. Like....a long ass time, especially since I'm still using the same products from last time. Well my beautician had hit me up to say that she had the new line from Design Essentials which features Coconut and Monoi in their ingredients. So I made an appointment for March 20th. While I was waiting to be next in Daisha's chair she had me check out the products and I can say they smelled very nice.

So after I'm shampooed, been under the steamer, then conditioned, my hair is done in flat twists.

After being under dryer, I go back to Daisha's chair and she starts to unravel the twists. Now I can tell you as I've stated before about my hair texture, it might look thick when I have it in an afro but my texture feels like cotton. So when Daisha starts to unravel my hair I can tell it didn't come out the way she had hoped. At the base of my scalp the twist had a defined curl but as it was unraveled to the end, there wasn't any definition, it was as though I had a small afro it was really strange.

Daisha wondered if the creme she had used on my hair was too heavy and wanted me to come back on March 25th to redo my hair.

So fast forward to the 25th, I'm back at the salon and my style was curls. This time around she didn't use the creme to finish my style, she used a product in a spray bottle, which she had concocted.

I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the end result. It was better than the first time but it still wasn't the best. Again nothing wrong with Daisha, but my hair wants to just do its own thing. The curls looked great but at the end of my curls around the last inch or so, they were unraveled and again no definition. Yet this was happening as she was seperating my curls to give my hair a fuller look. So I had curls with mini afros at the end. Super strange.

So in the end I will have to say that for me these products didn't do so well in my hair except for the finishing spray. The Coconut and Monoi line are probably more geared towards those with thicker hair who can really get definition out of their styles, especially a two strand twist. I'll just stick to what I know which is my various afro styles.

One of the styles I know, updo from March 10th

 


Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz

It's official: 2yrs of kinks and coils

Have scarf will wrap

Well this past year feels as though it has gone by fast in regards to my hair journey.  As my hair has grown throughout the year I've been able to do a few styles, including the above picture. My hair is now around 10 inches long since I measured it on May 27th. I definitely can see a difference from the previous year.

A bun courtesy of the Perfect Puff product

two strand twist

side fro

 

Full fro

swept up in the back

what my hair really looks like without stretching

another full fro pic

another side fro pic

fro hawk - but now they are bigger ;)

I'm really enjoying the journey and proud of myself that I haven't had a nervous breakdown. LOL 

So of course I'm checking my length from time to time and can see the progress but man I just can't wait to rock an insane huge fro. That is my goal!!!

Now - May 27th 2014

Then - May 26th 2013

Big Chop - May 27th 2012

Until the next episode....

 All That MsJazz