My Theory that lead to My Concoction

     Ok, I've been thinking about why some many black women have relaxed their natural curls. And I have come to a conclusion:  it's the media and the market.

     During my natural hair journey, I've noticed that I have been having to spend a little, not a lot, of extra time to make my own products for my hair. Looking at the market, most "black hair care" products are for relaxed hair.This is probably why so many of us caved to the assimilation and relaxed our natural curls. Cause someone else deemed them not beautiful.

     So, since so many shared their homemade recipes with me, I'm going to share one that I have come up with.  Natural black hair needs lots of moisturizers, and I love Olive Oil.  I used this to revive my curls when I had my straw set and I spray this on my scalp with the Senegalese Twist I have now, helps with the itching and stays moisturized. 


Homemade Concoction 
1 Teaspoonful of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Teaspoonful of  100% Aloe Vera Gel (It should be clear; found at Walmart or Vitamin Shoppe)
1 Teaspoonful of Jane Carter's Nourish & Shine (Pricey; found at Vitamin Shoppe)
2 Teaspoonsful of Lustrasilk Olive Oil Cholesterol (Leave in Conditioner; Sally's)
1 Teaspoonful of SoftSheen Carson's Shea Butter Green Tea Hairdress (Walgreens)
1 Teaspoonful of Luster's Pink Olive Oil Hair Lotion (Walmart)
1 Teaspoonful of Tea Tree Oil  (Walmart)
1 Teaspoonful of Jojoba Oil ("Black Hair Store") 

I combine the above in a pot and add water to it, (as much as you see fit;  I put this in a spray bottle and I filled the bottle up just over 1/4 of the way) .  I simmered it on Medium heat until it looked uniform.  Mine came out a creamy yellow color and a creamy consistency. 

The Results....

     Ok, so I snapped this photo after I finished the twist and I headed out with some friends.  I can not honestly tell you how long it took me to complete considering I was playing on the computer, watching TV and eating the whole time. I spent all day on it, but honestly it probably took 5-6 hours. 

     I LOVE these, they still need to be tied up at night like any hair style, but If I want, I can get up in the morning put it in a  pony tail and go.  Also, it pretty low maintenance.  Wrap at night,  I spray it with my homemade concoction (see another blog), and you CAN wash it with watered down shampoo, but I will probably use a spray bottle instead of totally soaking my head.  Can be left in up to two months, which is good cause I plan to BC in about 5 months.

Breakage v.s. Shedding

     Ok so I've come to terms with somethings and just in case I'm not the only misinformed person, I want to share with you.  THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHEDDING AND BREAKAGE.

     So as you know I have been transitioning from relaxed to natural and I was starting to freak out. I was expecting some breakage in my hair considering where the relaxed hair meets your natural hair is a weak point, so ofcourse I was looking into protective styles.  A protective style is exactly what it looks like it means,  It is a way in which you style your hair that is low maintenance and minimizes the damage hair can receive from daily style routines such as combing, brushing and heat.  So most of my first protective styles would last anywhere from 4-10 days, and when I would wash/co-wash or detangle my hair I was amazed at how much hair was in my comb.

    The average person sheds about 70-100 strands of hair daily from brushing and combing.  This is normal.  However, when you have had your hair in a style for 10 days and wash your hair and detangle, you can expect to find more hair in your comb.  Assume you have been wearing a protective style for 10 days and we will also assume you normally would have shed 100 strands of hair per day, Well 10 days x 100 strands per day = 1000 on the day that you finally use a comb which is and can seem like a lot but do not be alarmed.  What you do need to check your hair for is breakage.  This is when the hair has weaken for whatever reason (due to poor diet or your beauty regime). THIS IS BAD and you should always address the breakage ASAP.

Senegalese Twist

     Ok,  I have been having major breakage in the back since I have starting transitioning.  I have been following a regime to minimize the breakage but the back of my head must be in shock because it is extremely short compared to the front. So, given that I need a protective style the lasts for longer than a couple of day to a week.  So, while researching kinky twist,  I came across Senegalese Twist.

     Senegalese Twist are essentially the same thing as Kinky Twist except the hair that is used is different.  To me, Kinky Twist hair looks like yarn and I do not care for extensions and weave so I want something that  looks more real.  Also my hair hates braids, so that's why I'm going for twist.

   Senegalese Twist can run you about $175+ in a hair salon and depending on how small or big you want them, can take 3 hours or more to complete.  I have decided to do mine myself. Youtube,has tutorials on how to do the Senegalese Twist on many on how to style, I make mine crinkly, mostly cause the point of me transitioning, is so that I do not have straight hair.

So, I will post pics of the results!

Two Strand Flat Twist Out

Ok, so since I will do a mini chop, I will need a temporary protective style until I am able to get my more permanent style (Sangalese Twist which I will explain in another post).  So I want to try two strand flat twist.

   This is a style achieved by twisting the hair, similar to cornrows, while wet and letting the hair dry.  Once dry, you untwist the strand and the result is what you see to the left.  Depending on the size of your twist and the texture of your hair, the twist may vary in looks.  I search youtube and lots of woman  (relaxed, transitioning and natural) use this style.  One woman is actually fully natural as well as a hair stylist [:-)].  She shows to do two strand flat twist out as well as other things, so definely check her out

The Big Chop

     Ok so you can't talk about transitioning without talking about Big Chop.  Originally, I was going to try to transition without the Big Chop, however, my relaxed hair is not hold up well with the transition.  It starting to make me think that I have a softer curl pattern (in the 3 range).  So, given that, I will be going for a mini chop either today or tomorrow and I have given over to a braid style. 

    I have decided to do my big chop in either January (start the year natural) or on my birthday in March (a great birthday gift).  Even if you decide to transition without the BC, you will eventually will have to part with your relaxed ends.  Where the relaxed part meets the natural hair is a weak point, if you don't cut it, it will eventually break off which will in the long run damage your natural hair.

   So look for my hair being 100% natural in 5-7 months!

The Two Strand Straw Set

     Ok so this is my straw set, however; as I was researching Youtube which is very helpful,  One girl in transition did the hair in two strand twist before wrapping the straws in.  The curls are more defined and the curls are fuller one you pull the twist apart.  The curls also seem stronger and last longer because of it,

The Straw Set

This is my favorite style, by far.  This is a straw set.  It is probably the closest style to my natural curl.  Youtube has lots of videos on how to do this and the end results. I used eHow to get the the style.  I did alter it a little.  I had tried to do the style right after washing my hair but my hair just would not dry.  So, I blow dried my hair (which is not good) out and then went through and added the straws.  Yes straws, drinking straws.

     Its is so low maintenance.  I wrap it with a scarf at night, shake my head in the morning and finger through it and go.  It also last pretty long the picture on top is the first day. The picture on bottom is a week later. I prefer for the curls to eventually stretch out.  Make sure your ends are clipped when you do this style.

Materials:
1. Straws
2. Twist and Lock Gel
3. Bobby Pins

The Bantu Knot Out.

     I officially love this hairstyle.  It was very simple.  I was afraid when I was knotting that I was not doing right. But it didn't take many knots for this style to come out.

     I  love that fact that in the morning, I just needed to fluff it and go (unlike my rod style that stretched out).  I like this one best.  I still want the straw, but I'll wait until I have more new growth.

So...

     So, I did the rod style and I loved it but, when I woke of the next morning the curls were stretched out A LOT.  It was still nice but I prefer for my curls to be a bit closer to my head.

     So I was looking for another low maintainance protective style and I came across the bantu knot.  The same young woman that I got the rod style came up with this one as well.  Her video shows how to make the bantu knots, how to twist them out, and the end product.  Still curly, and I hope that maybe this style will last at least through the weekend.  I don't want to have to keep worrying about my protective style.

Here's and an example of the bantu knots and the twist out:

Sucess!

     Ok, so this was my end result after I decided to reco-wash my hair and let the rods stay in overnight.  Note to self: if I want to continue this style, I need a hooded dryer.
    
     I did not pull the curls out as far as I did with the my last attempt.  I really like the result.  Now I went to sleep with the rods in and in the morning, some of my hair was still damp after 10+ hours.  Does anyone have a remedy to that or why some of my hair can just holds moisture for so long?  Can I possible turn that into a good thing?

Here are comparison shots.  I'll let you be the judge

First Attempt At Rods

So from this angle, it looked like I had did it right but it came out as a frizzy mess.  I don't know if I used too much product, didn't let the curls sit long enough or what but I am attempting again.  I just started, so its possible that I have too much relaxed hair for this style but before I pulled the curls out (which I did not snap a pic of, sorry :-/ ),  It looked as tho the style would have suited me well. This time around I think I won't pull them as hard and see what happens.

Best Product Ever

About 5 years ago, (so half way into my creamy crack phase) I discovered the healthy miracle that is olive oil. It has always kept my hair moisturized, shiny and weightless. My hair is already flat, it can at least blow in the wind [LOL :-)]. I literally use ANY product that has olive oil in it and my hair is beautiful. So in my transition I made sure grab lots of olive oil products. Can't go wrong with a good thing

First Co-Wash

     So, these are just some pics I snapped before and after my first co-wash. A co-wash is basically washing your hair with conditioner.  While researching,  a lot of people says that shampoo can strip natural hair of essential oils, so co-washing is a way to clean your hair and keep the needed moisture.  Of course, I still to shampoo (especially if I am doing something that cause me to sweat), but I as I transition I will need to do it less often than I do now.
     You can tell from the photos, but  the hair on the left side of my head is noticeably shorter than the hair on my right.  Any pointers on how to correct this or why its happened (My stylist never could and I would always chop the right to match the left for it only to grow past the left by the time for my next trim)?

Treating My Hair Like Its Natural

So, I've been researching for days on how I can possibly transition without doing the big chop or BC as I have been reading. So protective styles are my main focus. I haven't had a relaxer in about 7 weeks before I decided to go natural and Youtube has proved very helpful. They are many videos there with other women transitioning or have transitioned and even how to style your hair at home. I'm trying this one: Cold Wave Rod Set Hairstyle. This style essentially, blends to the 2 textures. Also, other videos say it holds well in humidity and I live in lovely humid Florida, so that's perfect. The young woman in the video has been transitioning for four months. She not only shows what she's doing, but what products she's using. I also believe her face shape is similar to mine so I figured any woman transitioning with a round face would appreciate the style.

My Hair The Day I Decided

Ok so this is me the day I had decided no more relaxers. Kind of interesting that I chose this day to do it, two days before, I had gotten my hair lighten to a reddish tint which I think I will continue while I transition. I think its a beautiful color, plus me coloring my hair was my coping mechanism after my last breakup. A lot of women chop their hair after a very bad break up. I felt like its my hair, not his.

Creamy Crack

OK, so here is my relaxed hair. I have been on the creamy crack for about 10 years. This picture so the longest my hair has gotten being relaxed. You can't tell from this picture, but my hair is very thin. As a child it was very thick. I want the thickness back. I feel like I do not have anything to loose by going natural. I can press my hair or flat iron it straight if I want and still have my natural coif. With my relaxer, I can't get the natural coil back

Reason for Transitioning

So after years of considering I decided to grow out my relaxer. Like a lot of women who transition, as a child I had thick, curly hair. I got my first relaxer in the 6th grade. At the time, I was one of the only girls in my grade who hadn't gotten on the "creamy crack".

So of course, I've been on the creamy crack for years. Trying and experimenting with different styles, I've watched my once thick hair thin out. From coloring to weaving and just wearing the wrap, I can honestly say I've worn the relaxer style to death.

It took me awhile to get the courage to finally say I was going to go natural. I kept saying my face was too round (Its a perfect circle and I have fat cheeks), but when it came down to it, I said "Its my natural hair! How could it not look right for the shape of my face?"

So I'm going to share my journey, pass on what I learn and I hope other natural women or "transitioners" can give me pointers.