2 Years Natural!

Hey All,

A couple of days ago (on the 16th) I hit my 2 year mark of being natural, and I have been relaxer free for 2 years and 8 months. I am not going to say that it has been easy, and I have not lusted after that relaxer box, because I surely did, I still do at times. I am still very happy about how far I have come and I always try to keep that in perspective when I do have those lustrous thoughts (LOL)


When I self bc'ed back in 09' my hair was super dry, and it probably was no longer than EL. Through the help of learning proper hair care, and educated myself on growth aides in a year I made it to SL.


This year's short term goal was to reach APL by June, but I did not make it until September I want to say. You cannot let not making goals discourage you from reaching your goals. It is just a way that to learn patience.

I feel like my hair is in the best state it has been since I had virgin hair (never relaxed), so that is something to be proud of. I made APL, though in layers, but then again, who says we have to have a blunt cut to claim a length, right?

That would dismiss all the Layered, V-Shaped, U-Shaped ladies out there. I say longest later reaches, claim it! (Lol) That is my philosophy and I am sticking to it.

I am currently wearing my hair straightened, and I know there are some "Hard-core Naturals" or "Natural Nazis" as I like to call them, out there who believe that you are no longer natural if you use heat to alter your texture (which happens to be temporary) or that you should not manipulate your curls or try to define them; Like we are suppose to be walking around with a matted fro. I will be damned!

Natural to me is simply not using a relaxer to chemically alter your hair that makes you lose your natural curl pattern. That is it. So as far as I know I have lived up to that.

I have yet to color, but if you want to lighten up that fro, why not? Straighten it from time to time; Go for it! Why do people who create these boxes for themselves feel like they are "More than" because they use all natural products, or chose a vegetarian/vegan life style. If you are doing something you feel betters yourself, why put the next person down because they are not doing what you do?

Anyway guys, all I have to say is, DO YOU! You are the only person who truly has to live with your decisions, and if it is not detrimental to the health and well-being of those around you, why should their opinion matter. Much less of someone who does not know YOU.

I know I will! So happy anni to me!

~Naomi

That's it, I'm claiming it!

Hey All!

I am not sure if you guys know, but my ultimate goal is to grow my hair out to WL stretched, so that would be MBL-ish unstretched. My short term goal for this year was to make it to APL by June of this year, but unfortunately I did not meet my goal. Hey, it happens. I continued on with my regimen, I do not let things like not meeting goals discourage me, it makes me want to try even harder!

I think I got a lot of growth from my hair being in braids during the summer, since it is a protective style, even with me not washing my hair. Which is something I totally do NOT advice. Don't believe that myth about hair growing on a dirty scalp. It does not, a clean scalp is best environment for growth.


I am part of a challenge; The Six Inches Challenge for 2011 over on BHP, and still my goal was to reach APL. We recently had another check in to do. So my growth comparison was from when I flat ironed my hair back in April.

Well I flat ironed my hair with my MAXIglide Xpress a couple of days ago.I did not blow dry before hand. My hair was in a Bantu Knot Out from the day before, and I really got the urge and I had an important interview to go on, and it worked out because of the check in. I did make sure to moisturize with my Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Reconstructerizer, and sprayed my Beyond the Zone heat protectant on each section before flat ironing.  Here is what my progress looks like.

 

Judging by the picture I think I made APL. So I really retained a lot of growth since then. My head is a teensy tilted, but even if it was not, I would be APL because I am a little over the armpit mark. I am ecstatic! I think Hairfinity has something to do with it. :)

Oh I am layered by the way, it is how my hair grows. Not everyone likes, wants, or has a blunt hair cut, and just because you do not have one does not take away from your length. I pay no attention to "Full" length titles, (Full SL, Full, APL, etc.) because I feel it limits you to having your hair look a certain way. It's like those who's hair grows in a V shape, or U shape. I actually like the V look and I think my hair has a natural V shape.

Getting to this length means a lot to me because I have not had hair this long since I was a kid (before relaxers), and I thought I would never get my hair to grow past CL for the longest time. With BHP and other forums for advice, tips, and learning new methods, along with educated myself on hair, and proper hair care, my hair is the healthiest it's been in years.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my good news with you guys! Now I'm on to my next short term goal; BSL. I will aim for June of 2012. We shall see!

~Naomi

How To Achive Second Day Hair

Hey All!


I have been under time constraints lately, so achieving Second and Third Day Hair, had been essential!

The way my Regimen works is

Sunday Wash Day, which entails, prepooing, shampooing, cowashing, deep conditioning, oiling scalp, m & s, and of course styling.

Now whatever style I do Sunday night, whether it is a braid out, twist out, rod set, pony tail, etc. has to last me until Wednesday night, because Wednesday night is when I cowash, and do everything I do on wash day except for washing, and dcing.

How do I achieve this? Pineappling! It works for when your hair is in any curly style like the few I've named, it helps to preserve the curls.

You do this by loosely gathering your hair into a loose high pony, to prevent you from flattening your curls, coupling with your satin bonnet, you can also use a satin scarf, if not worn too tightly.


 I sometimes just gather my hair into two, one either side of my hair. This works as well.

Remember the Braid Out I did a day ago, I pineappled by putting my hair in two

and here is my second day hair.

This method works for me, as I am not one to rebraid, or retwist my hair after a braid/twist out.

Just wanted to share one of my curly methods for my curlies out there!

~Naomi

Length Check Update & Review of MAXIglide Xpress

Hey All! I'm back...with straight hair!


I flat ironed my hair a couple of days ago since I got my new MAXIglide Xpress not too long ago, which I bought from HSN, which to my knowledge has the best deal on this iron.

I felt it was a good time to do it since I have not straightened my hair since my 1 year natural anniversary, last October.

Before flat ironing I made sure to do my wash day duties, including a protein treatment since it was about time for me to do another treatment, and my hair could use a good dose of strength before applying heat to my delicate strands!

Using the iron was so easy! My only complaint is more so about my styling tips DVD not working, however that does not effect my review of the iron itself! I did get a tip from one of my good friends from BHP, who also owns the flat iron, to not use tap water, but use distilled/bottled water instead.

Since I have no patience, nor do I know how to make distilled water, I went with the bottled. The iron uses maybe two cap full of water, to fill the compartment.

The iron has notches that goes all the way up to 10, being the highest temperature of 428 degrees Fahrenheit . I used mine on the 7th notch (it's numbered so you will know which one your using).

I blow dried my hair using  my Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Reconstructurizer, and my hair came out pretty straight by using that alone, it also gave my hair a lovely sheen.

Here's my hair half blow dried

Before flat ironing, I added my Beyond The Zone Turn Up The Heat- Heat Protectant, since it can be heavy, I sprayed it twice in my palms rubbed them together, and added it to my ends and throughout my hair. I did this in three sections.

The iron was fully heated I don't believe any longer than 30 seconds. I sectioned my hair using the clips that came with my iron, which made flat ironing so much easier, they were sturdy clips too, which I loved. The reason I say this is because one clip was able to hold a whole side of my natural hair.

I use the steam at two points, once when I am about 2 inches away from my scalp, to prevent burning myself, and another before I get to my ends to smooth, and to to be honest... my hair got straight in one pass! That's right I said one pass!

But being the perfectionist that I am when it comes to my hair, I went over it again. I got my hair done in less than an hour, which I loved!

My hair got so straight it was scary, it was like I got a fresh relaxer! Here's a close up of my roots...

Here's the end results....

I gave myself a slight dusting after straightening, and I have got to say that I am quite pleased with my growth.

I'll be doing another length check on my 2 year anniversary in October, which is 6 months away. Let's see how much growth I can retain by then! I have no clue what hair length I am now but I'm hoping for full APL by that time.

Which is quite strange to say because at one point of my life I was convinced my hair wouldn't grow past CL (chin length), let alone do it natural, yet here I am. That's why pics are so important during your hhj, it lets you get a visual, we do not notice our growth but pictures help us see that we are progressing!

Anyway just had to share!

~Naomi