The Struggle

Hey All!

I know I haven't been posting lately..the reason being that I am struggling with whether I want to continue this blog. I started this blog as a way to keep track of progress but I haven't seen too much progress lately. Well as far as my length retention in the past 4 years. I've had more setbacks then I can count and my hair has been at a stalemate.

I've also been contemplating starting another journey...a loc journey. I had two strand twists in for a week and seriously thought about leaving them in.  Which is crazy because I haven't even completed this one, and there's where my other struggle lies. I've always loved locs, hence, the yarn braids I installed for the past 3 years. I love the immediate long hair..as does any woman I'm sure. Lol.

I don't know.. I just need some change. I'm definitely open to suggestions!

~Naomi

Update

Hey all, I've been meaning to post but I have been so busy lately,  I just wanted to pop in to say that have not forgotten you guys!

As far as hair goes I've gotten back into a regimen which is great and is slightly different than my last, less cowashing, more moisturizing and sealing. Products are slightly different as well. I have also fallen back in love with bantu knots! I love them so much they've almost replaced my flat twist outs, maybe it's the new style smell. (Lol) Next post I promise to show my bantu knots pictorial step for step with the products I use. I have flexi rods in as we speak and if they aren't a fail I'll share pictures as well.

That is about guys, enjoy your superbowl sunday. I'm not a football fan but I will be watching for half time, if some ratchetness happens I'll be posting (lol)!

-Naomi

Happy New Year!

Hey All!

I am a day late but I'd like to wish you guys a very Happy New Year! I attempted to go Times Square to watch the ball drop, but crowd was way too intense for my liking (lol) Settled for going to a Korean ball and getting back in time to watch the ball....but this time, on tv.

This has been quite the eventful year for me with me moving and starting college. Compared to 2012, 2013 I treated my hair with much more care, I got into a regimen, colored my hair, discovered some bald spot friendly styles (lol). The Havana Twists I installed have lasted me the holidays and I have got to admit that I am a bit nervous about "dealng" with my hair again, horrible I know.(lol) I have marked Sunday as my hair day, which is comfortale since it has always been a wash day for me. I'll more than likely share that with you all.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed your holiday, will enjoy the new year, and get into you HHJ in 2014!

~Naomi

Merry Christmas!

Hey All!

I'm pretty bah humbug this Christmas. The Grinch.stole my wallet...literally. I have to replace all my cards wait for money to be refunded to my account because whoever found it treated themselves to a 30 day metro card. I didn't get a chance too finish Christmas shopping, so gifts will be given late.

I hope you all holiday is going much better than mine! (lol)  I'm hoping late breakfast and 'A Nightmare Before Christmas' gets me in spirit! Hold your family close and enjoy the love they bring!

~Naomi

Havana Twists Revamped

Hey All!

I've been meanjng to post but have been busy with moving and school, which is exactly why I installed Havana Twists.

As you all know I've done them before but I got so-so reviews from family and friends..I myself wasn't crazy about the either. Don't get me wrong, they were cute but too scalpy. I already have fine hair and I try my best to not look bald-headed.

This time I used 5 1/2 packs of Reggae braid or whatever it was called, no different than Marley braid hair. I'm missing hair in spots so I probably would have ended up using 6 full packs.

The night before, I washed my hair with Vidal Sasson Color protecting Shampoo, deep conditioned with my beloved Queen Helene Cholesterol. Then m&s with Design Essentials HCO, and sealed with Africas Best Ultimate Oil. I then put my hair into horizontal flat twists. The next day I blow dried my hair on medium heat with my wide tooth comb.To twist, I used 3 tufts per twist opposed to the 5 I used before. I have 50 twists altogether and at the end, I used blue cold wave rods and dipped my ends in boiling water. Oh and I used both the twist in and braid at root methods. Why? Because my hair is super fine and the weight of the added hair wouldn't stay in, in some spots.

Friends and family kind of got on board this time, though I got compared to Predator from 'Alien vs. Predator' (They tried it. Lol.) I have received compliments everwhere from people of all cultures. So I am definitely not complaining.

It's a super simple style so it will forever be a go-to protetive style. Will be rocking these into the new year.

Just wanted to share.

~Naomi

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey all!

I know I'm so very late with this post but I would like to wish you all a very happy holiday. Enjoy the food but most of all, enjoy the company of friends and family!

~Naomi

Sidenote: Forgive the lack of posts but I've installed Havana Twists that im hoping will last until New Years, but we'll see. I'll be showing the next post and talking ablut installation, since I did them a but differently this time.

Product Review- Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer

Hey All!

I have been meaning to do this review for a little bit now, so I've finally sat down and made myself do it! This is a product that I have been curious about trying since the beginning of my transition in 2009. I have been using  Elasta QP's Olive Oil & Mango Butter for a few weeks now and I have got to say, I love it! Now it is technically Curly Girl Approved  though it does have natural ingredients, (I'll do a post on what makes a product Curly Girl Approved soon) because it has cones, but I have never been one to only use all natural products. It all boils down to personal choice.


I use it in my L.O.C method, and it works wonderfully. I have very fine 4a hair, so a quarter size dallop is enough to moisturize my whole head, sometimes less. I have used it on dry hair and it perks up my thirsty strands. I can say that it's great for styling as well because I always do the L.O.C method after cowashing.

The product comes in a yellow 8.25oz jar. Apparently not only is it a "New & Improved" formula, but also 80% free. (Lol) So I'm assuming it was once sold in a smaller packaging. Once you open it, is a light yellow, think banana pudding. It actually could fool you into thinking it actually is banana pudding sans the scent and packaging. The scent is of mango, kind of hair product-y, but mango which is something I love. I need something that smells good after using Vidal Sassoon's Color Protecting Conditioner. My hair loves it, but I hate the smell.

Like I said, it smells great, it's good for moisturizing even on dry hair. I would be mindful about the amount you use because it is a pudding texture it's hard to tell how much you need.  It is spreadable, meaning you can rub it in between your hands before applying, it is also a good way to keep track of how much you are using. I would stick to a nickel-quarter size, though really it depends on your hair's porosity. Oh another thing I should mention is the shine/sheen, this products leaves my hair with the loveliest gloss. It is sold in any BSS or your local Rite Aid/CVS etc. It retails for $3.99 USD, so very easy on the pockets of curly/kinkies on a budget!

On the Jar it also states that it can be used as a thermal (heat) protectant as well, I have yet to test this theory as I am staying away from heat since contracting heat damage. Yes y'all I said contracting, because there is no cure for heat damage. (Lol)

The ingredients are as follows...

Ingredients:
 Water/Aqua/Eau, Olea Europoea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Capric Caprylic Triglycerides, PEG-75 Lanolin, Behentrimonium, Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Mangifera Indica (Mango) seed butter, Theobroma (Cocao) Seed Butter, Cocoa Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Unoleic Acid, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Hydrolyzed Silk, CI 19140 (FD&C Yellow 5)


I'm not sure if it will work for my hair during the warmer months, but right now this product and I are best of  friends! 5/5 for me.

Happy Veteran's Day

Hey All.

I meant to post this ealier. I would like to thank all veterans who have served this country. A cousin of mine is a Marine, so I know the guts it takes guys to do what these men and women have done. So Thank you, I hope you all have enjoyed your day.

(Product Review next Post, so watch out!)

~Naomi

Curly Girl Comic

Hey all!

I was browsing Facebook when I really should have been doing homework. Shame on me! Anyway I saw a link for a curly girl comic, and could use a laugh so why not. It was fun-ty y'all!

If I tell you anything I'll ruin it! Just check the link

Curly Girl Comic








~Naomi

Sublimed Sulfur =Scalp Bumps Part 2

Hey all!

So remember how in the last post I said that I'd give my mix another chance? Well I did, and my scalp had bumps popping like popcoRN, not to mention, it itches!! I will NOT be revisiting! JBCO alone is just going to have to do.

Look at my poor hairline.

Im not saying not to use sublimated sulfur, I'm just saying be cautious about the amount you use when, infusing with oil.

I've between putting cortisone on it and it's improving a little bit. I have patches all over my head so I'm going to avoid cleansing my scalp for the next week. I'll update you guys sometime next week.

~Naomi

Sublimed Sulfur= Scalp Bumps?

Hey All!


A year ago I received a lovely package from my Secret Santa on my home forum, BHP. In it, was some Sublimed Sulfur! Now this was the as Jay-Z would call it, Holy Grail, of hair growth. I have heard so many great things about it, and now could participate in a challenge the person who sent me, was conducting! How cool is that?

Well...it turned out to be a bust, not because it didn't work, but simply I let any semblance of a hair regimen go down the toiled in 2012. Hair was an all the way mess. So this year I'm picking it back up.

Hair in the bald spots were growing an er'thang. I had infused the sulfur, and I mean all 4 ounces of it into a bottle of Olive Oil...I was told that I shouldn't have because it could be over powering. I didn't find that out until recently. I added that infused olive oil into some JBCO for super growing..as I liked to think of it. Turns out, she was right, an I ended up with little itchy scalp bumps.

I'm seeing great results, but I was oiling my scalp almost everyday. I think I'll scale back to every other day or three times a week. If that doesn't work I'll discontinue..


 I'll upload pictures of the bald spots later. (lol)




~Naomi

Happy birthday to me

I don't know how one is late to post their own birthday, but apparently I am. (lol) My birthday was last Friday (27th) I went to New York, and had dinner with girlfriends at this restaurant lounge called The Park. It was to start at 8, but you know we running on CPT time. (lol)  I had an absolute ball.

Just wanted to share.

~Naomi

Super Useful!

Hey Y'all!

I was on Facebook browsing, and I stumbled across this picture. It was too perfect not to share!

 It has the 4 main oils people chose to use in their HHJ and explain their uses.

I thought it would be helpful to those of you just starting out or were curious about these oils.  I have used all but Avocado, and would like to try it one day.


Anyway, do with it, what you will! (Lol)

~Naomi

Product Review- Ampro Pro Styl Shine n' Jam Silk Edges with Olive Oil

Hey All!

I have been meaning to do a product review on this product for a while now. I have been using in I would say since May. I'm bad I know, but I kept forgetting. I wish I had pictures of how my edges look when I use this, but as of right now I have no camera so y'all just going to have to take my word on it. Lol.

Now this product is for slicking as I like to say, or laying down your edges. I don't have the kind of edges that roll up, but they fuzz up, and I need them to not do that when I want to wear a puff or whatever. Especially since I kind of use the to cover up that my side panels are missing (bald spots on sides of my head).





The first kind of edge tamer kind of stuff I used was Organic Root Stimulator (think the go by ORS now, not that forums weren't already calling them that)  Edge Control. Now I like some of their stuff, like the Herbal Cleanse, it's wonderful when I'm braided, and their Replenshing Conditioner that is a light protein/moisturizing, but that Edge Control, I do not like. (Just because I don't like it doesn't mean it won't work for some) The texture isn't any different from any other product made for the purpose, but the way it feels after how it goes on got to me. It felt like glue, and after a couple of hours, my edges frizzed right on up like there was nothing ever on them. I use to really like Design Essentials Sleek Edge Control, the problem with that one is the price, it's about $11 USD, which to me is pricey for a product only meant to smooth down hairs, but if you can afford it, it's worth it. It does the job and smells lovely, the texture on the hair is a bit like ORS' but it is not as glue feeling.

 On to the product at hand, Ampro Styl Silk Edges. I got this product simply because I didn't see the ORS brand. Yeah I know I said I didn't like it, but it was the only one I knew of that kind of did the job at a decent price ($5.49 USD) and was sold at beauty supply stores...I remembered a while ago that this was one of the products (think it was a basket, or a least a couple of others to go along with it) that Nikki from CurlyNikki was doing one of her product give away MONTHS, not day, hun-ty. (Lol) She is one of the natural hair Pioneers, (Lol) check the site, but back to the review. I saw it, so I was like, hey, I should try it, why not, it's only $3.49 USD, and I have to say, it was the best $3.49 I've ever spent. It is only 2oz, but it is so worth it. It like the other edge pomades is clear, and has a jelly like consistency, it has a pleasant scent, and is really pliable, meaning I can smooth it out with a brush. I will say it can get greasy on you, meaning if it's a hot day, it may melt a little, but your edges will not go frizzy on you! Another thing that is cool is that it is Paraben and Alcohol free. Parabens from which I hears are linked to breast cancer (don't quote me on this) , and Alcohol is simply bad because it is very drying to the hair.

 Ingredients:
Aretsian Water, Ceteareth-25, Glycerine, Oleth-5, Peg-20 Hydorgenated Lanolin, Mineral Oil, Fragrance, Olea Euroea (Olive) Fruit Oil, DMDM Hydantoin, Hydrolyzed Silk Protein, Iodopropynl Butylcarbamate, FD&C Yellow #5,  FD&C Blue #1.


This is definitely 4.9/5 for me! The only thing that I don't like about it is that it gets a little shiny/greasy looking in the areas it's applied to if it gets hot out, and that is something I can live with!

A Small Hiatus

Hey All!

I've been having the worst of luck lately, my phone my only source of taking pictures got water damaged over the weekend; so I'm taking a break from focusing on myself on the blog to just hair in general! Styles, stories, whatever comes to mind! Just thought to tell you guys what's going on with me.


~Naomi

Bosley

Hey All!

I'm sure you all have seen the commercials on TV. If not Bosley is this hair restoration company that helps restore people who suffer from forms of alopecia, or balding. I have always wondered about the cost of the procedure, and how exactly it worked, but now I'm too frustrated with them to find out. Lol.

I scheduled an appointment with them, and forgot to go. They called and I set up another appointment. I had intentions for a vacation to New York for close to two weeks, so to be polite I call back and try to cancel the appointment. They ask if I would like to reschedule, I reply no being that I was not sure what date I would be back, especially with school coming up (Yes y'all, I's in college now. I'm going to be educated! Lol.) so I simply said that I would call back myself when I felt I was able to.

Why are these people calling me once a week talking about rescheduling. I almost cursed somebody out today, but I had to remind myself they are just doing their job. I may schedule eventually, but I feel like they are pressuring me, Bosley, why do you have to be so pushy?!

Just something random I have going on with me. Oh, and the Yarn Braids are out. I feel bald headed, but it feels nice to be able to wash my hair.


Will be back with some stuff. I really want to try to be consistent with you all. Bear with me!




~Naomi

A Break Down of Healthy Hair Care- Pyramid Form

Hey All!

I was browsing topics on one of my favorite forums, BHP, and ran into this awesome thread.

It basically was a breakdown of how new naturals, or people starting over their HHJ (Healthy Hair Journey) could know what to do, and how much to do it. Makes building a regimen super easy.

I do not own rights to picture*

This is just about the best breakdown that you could ever get. Personally when my hair isn't in braids, I don't necessarily moisturize & seal everyday, that's more of an every other day kind of thing, but everyone is different. You'll have to learn your hair and see what works for you and make adjustments.

Also I do protective styles seasonally. Meaning, two months for the summer, and most of the time two months out of winter. Summer simply because it's hot, and I don't like fooling with my hair, and winter because of holiday season. That's what works for me. I definitely try to use flat irons occassionaly, at most once of the month, but I am guilty of using heat when I wear a puff, because even though I've been natural for going on 4 years, I still can't stand shrinkage. 

I thought this was good stuff so  I definitely wanted to pass it on!

HHJ!


~Naomi

Beyonce's New Du

Hey All!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a HUGE Beyonce fan. Now I usually will get upset if people talk about my Beyonce, but the T these days are about her new cut. She done cut her hair off y'all! It's a full on Halle Berry Pixie, but blonde. As much as I love her, I can't come out and say that I love her new Du, but I definitely don't hate it. What do you guys think?

Oprah's Hair

Hey All!

I'm wondering if you all saw the cover of Oprah's current magazine issue. It is her of course, but did you guys see that hair?! I absolutely live for her hair on that issue!!! I'm not convinced it is all hers, but lord have mercy is it fierce! In case you didn't see it...

Now Oprah already has an impressive head of hair already,

(Sorry Oprah, I know this isn't your best picture) but something about volume does it for me.


Oh, and did she, or did she not look great with Steadman on the red carpet?

More big hair. LOVE IT!!


I think Oprah had turned into one of my Hairspiratons y'all! (Lol)

Check In

Hey All!

I haven't posted anything lately, as I have gone back to Yarn Braids for the summer. I've had them in since the 1st of the month. I have realized that I cannot go more than 2 weeks without cleansing my scalp. Can't exactly wash it, but it's close enough. So during these times, ORS Herbal Cleanse is my best friend.

My scalp was itching so bad, it felt as if it were on fire! On top of the fact that it didn't smell to great. I tried to hold off afraid that the scrubbing would make my roots fuzzy, but I had to give in. My hair doesn't look a hot mess, so now I know it's safe to use bi-weekly. You know how us women can get when we just got our hair braided.

This is kind of gross, but I wanted to share the joy of seeing the dirt that left my scalp.

I said it was gross! :)


That's about it for now. I don't wrap my hair, my head is allergic to scarves. How do I know? It's on my pillowcase by the time I wake up. (Lol) I at least try to oil and moisturize once a week. I definitely don't want to overdo it and get buildup too soon.

I'll be back with stories, styles, or even posts about styles on others I like. Think it's finally time I branch out from talking about me. (Lol)


Until Next Time,

~Naomi