Not Consistent :P

lol, so looking at the title one can already see what I'm talking about. I can't do this blogging thing everyday, but I will try to do it multiple times in the week. I did a twist out on Monday and it looked really cute, and today I put my hair in a bun since the curls fell and I didn't feel like twisting my hair again. I'm about to co-wash it with conditioner and try to figure out what in the hell I want to do with it. Lol I'll probably let it air dry, twist it, and do a fancy little twist in the morning. The twist out gives me so many options with my hair, I love it! My new growth is coming in well, I frequently have my hand in my hair feeling the little spiral curls. My hair is getting thicker, which always happens around the time I usually get a relaxer, and I'm excited! I talked to my friend today who has natural hair, and she talks about how she's so much more confident with her natural hair and it gives her a lot of options when she does her hair. Her curls are really pretty, semi-tight spirals all the way through. I can't wait to see what my hair type will be. I've heard you have to wait at least 6 months before hair typing yourself, so that you can have a substantial amount of new growth and see the curls clearly. my curls aren't that tight, but they aren't real loose either. We'll see in a couple of months how they look. Oh yeah!! I have my first trim coming up!! I'm cutting my hair today after it air-dries. I won't cut much, but I want to get a little cutting pattern going on so the relaxed hair can get off my hair as soon as possible. :)

Twist Out

Seriously, this is now my new favorite style. My hair came out so pretty adn wavy and soft, I looked soo good!!! lol. I put  hump in my hair and was rocking this at the movies. I will be doing this style frequently, that's for sure. :) I put olive oil moisturizing lotion in my hair before I twist it b/c my hair feels really soft afterwards. New low manipulation style!! Yay! I found one that works for me and my style! lol. I really can't wait until I go natural. I don't really like my hair straight anymore, and my curly looks are taking over as my favorite. Sorry I didn't post a pic of my bantu knot twist, but it was just not looking all that hot the next day. I don't like the tight curls so I'll try to do them bigger next time.

Washed, Conditioned, Protein Treated, And Two Big Braids

OK, so when I rinsed out my pre-poo and continued to wash and condition my hair, there was a lot less hair coming out in the tub than last week, so that's a good thing :) Also, combing my hair and washing the sections was pretty easy, but I still think that has to do with the fact that I'm not that far along in my transition.

I like to air dry my hair to minimize the heat I use on it, and when fingering my scalp, i can feel these really soft thick curls. I parted my hair down the middle so I could really see them and they are too adorable!!! I love that my new growth is coming in thick and strong, and I want to get better at taking care of my hair. Which is partly why I started this hair diary, so I can record my journey.

I did a deep treatment moisturizing protein condition under the dryer for about 12 minutes this week since I did a moisturizing deep condition last week. I can't really see how my hair is right now b/c it's wet and in two braids, but when I take them down I'll see how they come out.

I'm so happy that I'm doing this transition and my family is backing me up on this, kind of. Lol. My mom and uncle were like "why are you doing that?" and my dad is TOTALLY against it. I think my favorite line from him was "do you want to be bald-headed your senior year?" Lmao. Wow dad, first, I'm a sophomore, so I have two good years of hair-growing time. I won't be bald. Lol. Second, my new growth comes in pretty thick and fast, so I might even have a good sized fro by my senior year :) I can't wait. My hair has gotten shorter over the years. When I was younger, my hair was down my back, and after Katrina, My hair has steadily creeped upward until it rests on my shoulders and refuses to go any further down. I was thinking that maybe getting it healthy, and letting it be how it should be, I would see greater results with hair length and health.


2 hours later

Ok, So I'm a person that does not know what she wants to do until I actually do it. Lol. I undid my braids and watched a video about Bantu Knots on this Youtube channel KandeeLovesYa. I sat under the dryer for like 30 minutes and was too impatient so took down my hair. OMG!! My first successful  Bantu Knot out!!!! Omg, it looked so pretty!!! I'll take pictures tomorrow and put it on the blog. I've tried like 3 times before to do it and it always turned out fuzzy and not curly all the way through. I finally got the hang of it, and I will definitely do it in the months to come. I'll also post a picture of my new growth curl pattern soon (It's not much but It's pretty and soft!) I redid my bantu knots since my hair is mostly dry, and will just wear my satin bonnet for the rest of the day.

MY MOM:
OK, I know some people are having trouble with their family and how they react to our transitioning, so I wanted to talk about my mom for a second. Yeah, she seems to be cool with it, but there are times when she brings up alternatives to going natural, like stretching out my relaxers and just switching up hairstyles. She believes I'm just "bored" and want to experiment. But to me, this is something serious and something I really want to do. Maybe later on she'll 100% support me, but I guess it'll take a few more months of me showing her I can handle this before she jumps on the bandwagon.
That's really all I have to say so...Bye! :)

Hair Regimen so Far

Wash w/ Shampoo, Conditioner, and Deep Conditioner on Saturdays

Co- wash with conditioner on Wednesdays

My deep conditions will alternate from Protein to Moisture Deep Conditioners every other week

 Moisturize daily

Cantu Shea Butter Leave in conditioner every night (does WONDERS for my hair!) b4 styling w/ protective styles
 

I have a lot of products that I've bought so far based off of videos I have seen, and most of them give me good results in my hair. Ummm, Maybe I will post a product blog.....

I don't have a lot of new growth, but it's enough that I can finger small curls at my roots. I'm so excited to see what my natural hair looks like and I hope it is pretty!!

P.s. My hair is shoulder length, the longest it's been in about 2 years since I cut it to chin length.

First Post, Second Month Of Transitioning

So today was slightly better than yesterday. Yesterday I had a small breakdown as I was researching information about transitioning. There was so much information and I felt pressured to have the results I expected now. I could't breathe and decided to turn off my computer and go to bed.

I am one hundred percent sure about my decision to go natural. I think that not only will my hair be happier, but so will I. My hair is so boring and unhealthy, and I'm ready for a change. It's February of 2012, and this is my year not only to be natural, but to be healthier, and better student, a better daughter, a better person.  I have so many journeys I am embarking on this year, but this one is I want to document .

I have a love-hate relationship with my hair. I love that it's straight, that it's easy to detangle and style, but i hate that it is so thin and unhealthy looking at times. There are a LOT of girls at my school who are natural, and their hair is really full, thick and healthy, and I want that soooo badd! I want a big fro that when straight goes way past my shoulders. I want that length and thickness. Buttt...........this is a process that will take time. This I know, so that's why I'm starting this blog.

I want to avoid days like yesterday where I have nothing to do so research other people's hair journeys and feel the walls come in around me with pressure. I want to focus on myself, soul search a bit.

BTW, I'm a sophomore in high school so this is a really big change for me. I love my hair and cry when I have to cut it, but the prize at the end of this long journey is too big and great for me to be reluctant to cut off the relaxed ends.

Needless to say, I am NOT  doing a big chop, I want to transition for a while and cut my hair when I'm ready (which most likely means when I have a good size afro XD). I've already have a plan so this should not be TOOO hard... I hope. lol