Curls!

2 weeks post big chop.  Still no curls.  However, I did find a video that helps me define my curls in less than 10 minutes:

I am so thankful for finding this video.  I guess hours of looking at youtube videos has paid off!  I'm on my third day of doing this, and I still really like it.

I also started using Aussie Moist conditioner to co-wash, which is great.  I didn't like it on my relaxed hair, but it really moisturizes my natural hair.  I went to the beach on Saturday, and with the hot sun on top of my already dry hair, my kinks were CRISPY.  That night, I shampoo'd, henna'd, and deep conditioned overnight with ORS Replenishing (not sure if I like it on my natural hair- maybe I need to stay away from protein).  The next day I used the brush to define my curls and I was in shock how fast the curls came!  I used leave-in, Shea Moisture Curling Smoothie, and Eco Styler gel.  My hair was still not as moist as I wanted it, but I loved the curls.  The next day, I used Aussie Moist to co-wash, skipped the leave-in, and just applied castor oil and Eco Styler Gel with olive oil.  Loved it.  My hair stayed moist all day- a first since my big chop!  I went out with a couple of friends, and they gave me so many compliments on my hair.

Since starting my hair journey, I have always been on the fence about leave-in conditioners. Unless I use the Kimmaytube method with oil and aloe vera juice, I've never really seen a difference.  Lately, I've felt like the leave-ins I've been using have been making my hair feel harder and drier, not softer and moist.

I also realized that I have heat damage!  Right on top in the front- the most visible place to have it! I'm just going to keep scrunching it up with gel to mask it.

First Twist Out on TWA

Since I haven't found my curls yet (hey, maybe I'll never have defined curls), I decided to do a twist out.  The day before that, I co-washed, and left some of the VO5 conditioner in my hair.  It looked like my hair was curly!  However, when I woke up, I looked like Florida Evans, lol.  I co-washed again that night, left some of the conditioner in my hair, applied some oil, and used Taliah Waajid Curly Curly Curl Cream to do 6 flat twists from front to back.  It still takes me a long time to do flat twists.  I'm so used to cornrows (3 strands), that flat twists seem weird for me to do.  In the morning, I rubbed some coconut oil on my hands and took the strands out.

I definitely liked this better than the "hairstyle" I had the day before.  Even though I tried to get rid of all of the relaxed ends, I still had some spiky ends popping up.  The next time I do it, I won't do twists all the way back.  The middle was not as defined, so I think I need to start new twists in the middle of my head.  That night, I slept with a satin bonnet on.  When I woke up, I applied a little shea butter/coconut oil, sprayed with a little water, fluffed and went to work.  I'll be happy if it lasts me 3 days!


I've been buying all of these products, but I'm going to slow down.  It hasn't even been 2 weeks since my big chop and I want to get my hair used to being in it's natural state! Just because I don't like how a product works now doesn't mean I won't like it in 2/6/8/12 weeks.  I'm going to stay with a product for a week before I try another.  I was using the clear Ecostyler gel, and I finally got the one with olive oil.  It seems a lot more moisturizing.  I did a few coils on dry hair last night, and I loved how moist and smooth my hair was this morning.  

5 Days Natural

It's been 5 days since my big chop.  I'm hanging in there!  I still don't regret doing it, although I have had a few frustrated moments:

* The hair on top still has some relaxed ends, but I'm afraid to cut them.  The texture on top is different than the rest of my head because it doesn't curl/kink like the back and the sides.  I don't want to cut too much off making the top shorter than the rest.  I also don't know if there's some heat damage going on, or my curl patter really is looser there.  I'm going to just keep using small rollers on the top until it grows a little more.

* I haven't been experimenting with products like I wanted to, because I've had to work, and I don't want to risk a crazy looking hair day.  I've only been using Ecostyler gel.  This weekend, I'm going to try some curling products.

* I still don't know what I'm using as a moisturizer.  Lucky for me, my hair hasn't  been too dry.  I've been using Giovanni Direct Leave-in after I co-wash, and on days I don't co-wash, I spray some water/coconut oil mix on my hair.

* I've been getting some good feedback so far.  I went to a party the other day where a lot of my friends were, and they gave me some nice compliments.  I've been told I have the face for it, that I look younger, and short hair is what I always should wear.  The only people who don't like it are my father and this guy at my job. I could care less what either of them thinks.

The journey continues...

Transitioning/Going Natural Reason #5

Transitioning Reason #5: BIG Hair

I have always loved big hair.  Unfortunately, I have never had big hair, other than the times when I was a little girl before my mother pressed my hair.  Of course, then I didn't appreciate it.

I always think that women with big natural hair have interesting lives.  I love that they seem carefree.  Even when I did like my hair relaxed, I thought that wearing it straight was boring and conforming.  As I get older, I want to conform/be normal less and less.

I still don't really know my true texture, so I may never have the big hair I covet, but I know it will be bigger than it ever was without a relaxer!

Bye Bye Lye

I big chopped this weekend!  I went to my friend who works at a salon.  I've never gone to her before, but I wanted a professional to cut my hair.  I figured if I did it, it would be uneven.  Also, I don't own any good scissors (yet).  She did some things I wish she hadn't, but hey, it's done.  I went in with my hair in a rod set.  She just started cutting.  Before I knew it, there were relaxed curls on the floor.

The she washed my hair.  I asked her not to use shampoo, since I just shampoo'd 3 days prior, but she said I need it (ugh)  After is was wet, she blow dried it (ugh) to cut it into a shape.  Then, she wet and conditioned it again to get it to curl.  She wanted to play with it by adding some product and twisting it, but I wouldn't let her.  I left the salon with a wiry, crazy looking afro, but I was determined to fix it myself when I got home.  She has a really short haircut, but she goes to the barber to get it done, and she uses a relaxer.  So, she's not used to doing natural hair.

I had a picture of myself when I left the salon, but I deleted it from my camera by mistake.  Maybe I did it subconsciously?? ;-)

When I got home, I jumped in the shower and co-washed with Suave Coconut conditioner.  I got out and used a little as a leave in.  My hair was still pretty wiry, not really curly.  I applied some jojoba oil, and some Ecostyler gel, and started twisting.  The back and the sides twisted okay, but the front and the top wasn't cooperating.  So I put in 5 or 6 perm rods and sat outside in the heat for a little while.  When I took the rollers out, the top was curly.

The next day I went to the beach, and just sprayed my hair with my coconut oil and water mix.  I didn't get my hair too wet at the beach, but I co-washed when I got home and did the same thing I did the day before.  The next morning, I noticed that I still had some spiky ends, which I think were relaxed pieces, so I cut them myself.

I think my hair is in shock, and it will probably take a week or two for it to curl on its own.  I bought some products, but have only used the gel.  My hair is long enough to twist, so maybe I'll try some flat twists.

Right now I don't love my hair, but I don't hate it either.  I don't regret cutting it.  I'm happy to be natural.  I'm happy not to have to depend on a stylist. I'm happy to be free!