My Goals for the New Year

Happy New Year!

I have different goals for the New Year.

Some of these goals include drinking more water, develop a fitness regimen, and experiment with more styles for natural hair.

I would like to drink more water. In 2011, I consumed I would say about 70 percent water. This year I plan to guzzle more. I want to get at least 50 to 64 ounces of water a day into my system.

I want to develop a fitness regimen. I want to incorporate cardio into the mix.

With natural hair, I want to try more styles.

These are just some of my goals.  I hope everyone have accomplish everything that is positive that they desire to. Let 2012 be our year!!

Natural Hair: Using Spin Pins for a Bun

This is a video of me demonstrating how to use Spin Pins. I purchased them from Walgreens. Some other stores that you may find them include Walmart and Dollar General.
Basically they are a neat way to pin your hair up. They are like a substitute for bobbie pins. I heard that one spin pin is equivalent to 20 bobbie pins. I really like them.

Jane Carter Curl Defining Cream

The following video is a review of the Jane Carter Curl Defining Cream. This is my first impressions of the product.

Ultimate Organic Therapy EVOO Polishing Styling Gel Review

I purchased this product a week ago. I used it to do two strand twists. I love that it does not flake like it says on the labeling. After doing my twists my hair was soft. I did not get any crunchy feeling that some gels cause after application.  I also like that it gives some luster to the hair.
This gel even gave me really defined curls. While I was two-strand twisting my hair wet, I used I small amount of this product on the section that I was twist. While twisting my hair, I would twirl the ends with my fingers so that it will curl at the end. This product does the trick for definition at the ends of my hair.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine,Carbomer, Olive fruit oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dimethicone Copolyol, Tocopherol, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance, Tetrasodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea,Hydrolyzed Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Starch, Hydrolyzed Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Protein, Benzophenone-4, Propylparaben, Methylparben, CI 60730(Ext Violet 2).
Plus, it has sunscreen in it.
I bought this product at a local beauty supply store and it was $3 and change. A draw back that some may take issue to is that the product has parabens, which is an artificial preservative.

Here is a natural who wears locs

Here is Keisha's story on going natural:


Why did you choose to go natural?
I chose to go natural because I was tired of chemicals and I have had just about every style there is.

How long have you been growing your locs?
The first time I had my locks, I had them for 5 years. This time I'm going on 3. Not cutting them again. 


Did you do accessorizing (earrings and makeup) to top off your natural look?
Sometimes, I do top off my look with make-up. I use Bare Minerals because it a natural product and look. 


What type of natural hair products do you use?
I use Taliah Waajid Black Earth Products or Mango Twist and Lime Products.

Meet a natural who transitioned from relaxed to natural hair for two months

Christina transitioned from relaxed to natural hair in early 2010. Here is her story:

WHY DID I CHOOSE TO GO NATURAL?
- Well the reason I chose to go natural is really a personal one. I don't want to offend anyone by saying this but I like to be real. I don't wear wigs or weaves because I felt as though I would be deceiving others. My younger sister went natural 3 or 4 years ago and this year in January I realized that I was "lying" to people. I was deceiving people by using relaxers in my hair. I thought to myself I need to be the God-given me. I wanted to be what God visioned me to be. So I decided to go natural. 

HOW LONG HAD YOU BEEN PERMING YOUR HAIR?
- I will be 27 in November and I had my first relaxer around the age of 13. Wow... that's like 14 years!

WHAT WERE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS WHEN YOU DID THE BIG CHOP?
- I was excited. I had researched info on the web and was motivated and ready to get rid of the relaxed aka damaged hair. When I picked up the scissors that night I got really nervous. After the big chop I thought I looked beautiful. The morning after I was a little nervous about leaving the house and then I thought to myself... 'Christina, you wear the hair, the hair doesn't wear you'. I ventured out the front door and enjoyed my confidence! (I had to cut of some of my relaxed ends that were remaining later that night)

DID YOU TRANSITION?
- I transitioned for 2 1/2 months and then I was too excited and couldn't wait to have healthy hair. Then I cut it off!


WAS IT INITIALLY HARD TO GO NATURAL?
- Yes and No. I was excited about the new journey i was about to take but nervous and I think I changed my mind quite often.

DID YOU DO ACCESSORIZING (EARRINGS AND MAKEUP) TO TOP OFF YOUR NATURAL LOOK?
- Yes. My weekly motivation while transitioning was to purchase earrings, headbands, neck scarves (it was wintertime), and even hair products after I finished a week without manipulating my hair with chemicals, or harmful products. I even took a trip to D.C. (where my sister lives) to purchase natural hair things with my sister.

HOW WAS THE TRANSITION PROCESS FOR YOU?
- It started out really easy until the new growth became noticeable. My sister coached and encouraged me. I gt two cousins, and 1 aunt to do it with me. Then I became frustrated and bored with the styling options I had to wear with my short hair so I would do a wash and go and wear colored berets on my head everyday to my classroom.

WHAT TYPE OF NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS DO YOU USE?
- I like to use all natural hair products. I started out using expensive items like (Kinky Curly line, DeVa Curl line (my fav), Aveda and CURLS from curls.biz. I stopped spending so much money so now I use.... Extra Virgiin Olive Oil, ECO Styler Gel Krystal, Giovanni Deep Moisture Conditioner, Giovanni Direct Leave-In, every now and then Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner or Taliah Wajjid Mist Bodifyer Spray as a leave -in and I deep condition with mayo once a week and I use 100% all natural Henna as a deep conditioner once a month. On a daily basis I use EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), Eco Styler Gel Krystal, and Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner.

Two reasons to use peppermint oil on natural hair

Natural peppermint oil is like adding a kiss of brightness to your natural hair. Peppermint oil does wonders for the hair. For one, it brings life to dull hair by adding shine to it. Peppermint oil is especially great to use when you press and curl your natural hair. Peppermint oil can protect your hair from breakage especially if you are pressing your hair with a flat iron or a hot comb. The oil is all natural and sulfate free so it will not dry your hair out.

Peppermint oil could also be used while you are in transition or using it for protective styles. 

Smells great 

Peppermint oil has the nice smell of peppermint and derives from a plant extract. It is all natural so there are no chemicals in it that could strip your hair. 

Manageable hair

Natural peppermint is great for easier management of your hair. When the oil is applied to the hair, it is not heavy on your hair.

Peppermint oil can be used for other uses as well. Using it on my hair, has been great. Whenever I get tired of     

braids or twists and I want to press my hair, peppermint oil is my choice as it works as a shield to block the heat from damaging my hair. 

So readers, do you use peppermint oil? If so, what has been your experience with it?

Two reasons to like longer two strand twists

Since I went natural three years ago, my hair has grown quite a bit. It has come a long way from the little short hairdo. May I add that this really short hairdo was topped off with my hair being shaved in the back.
I have been wearing my hair in different styles every since. My hair has been in the palm roll, press and curl including the one style that I wear the most is the two strand twists.

Now that my hair is longer I can do more things with it. When I wear two strand twists now I can put up in the back, put it in a pony tail or curl individual twists. There are two reasons I like longer two strand twists.

More versatility
You get multiple styles in one. I can pin up my hair to the side, wear it down loose or pin it in the back. Also longer two strand twists make for a nice twist out style. Twist outs are created when a braided style is undone to create a crinkly, curly or wavy look to the hair.

More of a curl definition
Since my natural hair has a curl pattern, my two strand twists curl up at the ends.

So, have you let your hair grow out since going natural? If so, what do you like about your longer natural hair?

Natural Hair Moisturizing Products

Moisture is important in maintaining natural hair. Here are some products that gives natural hair the moisture boost that they need.

Dudley's Quench Moisture Mist
This product moisturizes your hair and stop frizziness.


Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-in Conditioner
This is a leave in conditioner that you spray in your hair. It smells like vanilla and works well in moisturizing your hair.

Infusium 23 Leave in Conditioner
This leave in conditioner moisturizes and softens hair.

Honey
That's right honey can moisturize your hair. Add some honey to your hair, put on a shower cap, leave in for about two hours and rinse out.

Three reasons to transition from permed to natural hair

Let's face it. Transitioning can be a difficult task. After all you may encounter some obstacles. Those obstacles could include negative thoughts that you may have or what you may think someone will think. But once you face your obstacles or put negativity aside, transitioning will not be so hard.

While in transition, you may have thoughts of changing your mind about going natural. But don't fret. You are not the first one to have that thought and you won't be the last. Just think though that there are several reasons to go natural. Here are three reasons to go natural:

Chemical free hair

Just think about how strong and healthy your hair can become with natural hair. Not to say that your hair can't be strong with permed hair but natural hair is can be less prone to damage. Chemicals applied to the hair can damage it especially if not applied correctly.

More versatility or edge

When someone wears their hair natural, they have a "look at me" stand out in the crowd aura about them. 

Natural hair gives an edge that chemically treated hair does not have. Also depending on a person's hair texture and length of their hair, they can create more styles with natural hair.

Freedom 

After the transitioning period, there is almost a sense of new found freedom. At least that's what I felt when I went natural. With that freedom comes with knowing that you do not have to worry about those perm touch-ups when new growth comes in.

Summer Natural Hair Styles

Pictures will be posted soon (June 2011)

Have you decided how you want to style your hair this summer? Two-strand twists are a braided hairstyle may be a good summer style to combat the season's humidity.

TWA
For those with a tiny winy afro or TWA, you can rock your short due in the summer. You may want to accessorize your do with accessories.

Experiment with your long natural hair

For those with longer natural hair, for instance ear length or shoulder length, you can experiment with different updo styles. You could pin it up.

Deep Conditioning

Hey everyone,
You probably know the importance of conditioning your hair. Natural hair especially needs moisture. Here is some information on how to condition natural hair http://www.ehow.com/how_5934427_condition-natural-hair.html.
The above link to the article is an article that I wrote on the site ehow.

Here we go with the palm roll hairstyle

How to transition from permed to natural hair easier

Here is information on two-strand twists-How to do two strand twists for natural hair

Palm roll in 2008.

Transitioning with ease

So if you are in transition or new to having natural hair,  you may run into some challenges. Those challenges may include having negative thoughts. You may think, "do I really want to go natural?" " How will I manage my hair?" you think. You may look around and see others with permed hair and start comtemplating whether you should perm your hair. Or you may have seen others with natural hair and thought "that looks good on them." Then when it comes to yourself you start thinking it may not look good on you. You may start thinking what will people say about me. "Will they think that I am ugly or not as attractive?," you ask yourself. You may feel bad that you are thinking such negative thoughts. Well, I am here to tell you that you are not alone. Many have thought the same thing that you have thought.

While in transition, you can where your hair in different styles. You do not have to cut all your hair off to go natural. You can slowly transition as you will develop two hair textures your permed hair and your curly or wavy natural hair. You can where braids or put two strand twists in your hair. You can wear your hair in these styles for a while until you feel comfortable wearing your hair completely natural.
You could be in the transition phase for one month, six months, a year or many years.

If you go decide to cut your hair all off from the very beginning don't fret because remember that your hair will grow back. If you cutting out all the perm from your hair is the best thing, then go for it. If you are suffering from breakage, then cutting your hair right from the get go is the way to go instead of transitioning for several months. Whatever you decide embrace the change and the natural you.