Oprah Rocks Her Natural Hair!

Most days Oprah's hair is straightened but she has often said she is natural.  There have been post of her wearing her braids in the summertime but very few without any alterations since she was in Color Purple.

So it was a delight to catch this clip of Oprah speaking about her natural hair to be seen on the cover of her magazine.

Check it out:




Photo: O Magazine via Wonderwall MSN



There also is a brief video of her discussing her hair.

What do you think??

Natural Hair Is Not for Everyone

I was recently having a conversation with my mother and she was telling me how someone she worked with commented that they were gonna go natural because "I don't wanna do my hair."  Then today Dee and I had the same conversation after walking and observing a woman that seem to have the same philosophy.

Okay, I can't take it!  This seems to more and more common.  I have seen several women (and some men) that seem to have just rolled out of bed!  If anything, natural hair may require more work, depending on how it is styled.  Now I know some ladies rock fierce 'fros.  Not a prob.  If you talk to them, they still take care of their hair. These women don't just get up and go.  There is care, time and love that goes in to having an awesome 'fro!

Whether you wear natural or relaxed hair, straight or curly; nice, healthy hair requires maintenance.  Healthy hair, like a healthy body means doing something.  Just existing does not cut it!

Somehow along the way, in some people's minds, 'natural hair' equals no work or easy.  Natural hair is definitely not for everyone.  If someone doesn't like taking care of their hair with a relaxer, natural hair is probably  not for you.  If you don't want to pay someone to do your natural hair, probably not for you.  If you don't like doing your own hair, period, natural hair is probably not for you.  If you wanna just roll out of bed, natural hair is probably not for you!!!!

Bottom line, natural hair is NOT for everyone! 


Kee

Braid Out

So after I did my deep condish with the Anita  Grant cubes, my hair was very soft.  But the weather this past week has been so hot and with so much hair it was just to much for me to handle, so I have kept my hair braided up all week.  I flat-twisted the front because it is too difficult for me to keep brushing hair out of my face when working.  I braided the back and just pulled everything into a bun. 



Simple summer style

I realized this was a great protective style and I can keep my hands out of my hair!  The weekend came and I wanted to wash my hair but had errands to run, so I took my hair down.  It was beautiful!  Don't get me wrong, I always love my hair but it was so soft.   I couldn't believe how nice my hair felt.  I really like the results of the deep condish.  I definitely will keep using the Anita Grant.

Braid out after a week

Have you tried anything that has made a difference in the way your hair feels?

Anita Grant Rhassoul follow-up

Okay, so after my terrible attempt at following directions with the Rhassoul Chocolate cubes, my hair still turned out great. It was soft and did detangle very easily. I think it would have been even better had I followed the directions!!! Lol. That's ok. I didn't take a picture with it down. It's too hot to have all this hair out.

Here is a picture:

So all and all it was really good and u will be using it again!

Anita Grant Rhassoul Clay Deep Condish

Okay, I was so very excited to get my package from Anita Grant!!!  A few weeks ago I read a post from Whitney on Naptural85.com about the Anita Grant Deep Condish chocolate cubes.  You know anything to do with chocolate, I'm there!  I went online to Anita Grant and spent half an hour searching for products.  I had heard of Anita Grant but had never ordered anything.

So I ordered my product and waited, and waited and waited.  I was going crazy waiting for this delightful treat to come.  Especially after Whitney had such wonderful results.  So finally my package arrived a few days ago.

My Cubes have arrived!!!!

 It was in the middle of the week and too much for me to do during the week.  I usually do my hair on Saturdays but I had too much going on yesterday.  I have been writing all day and it has gotten later and later.  I finally ran downstairs and heated up my water but then the trouble began.  I really didn't read the directions and just put the cube in a heat resistant container.  I poured hot water in and it was soup.  Yep, I poured too much water in.  Oh brillant.  I then decided to pour out some what and add another cube.  Yeah, that didn't work, still soup. 

I have waited too long for these cubes.  I am not going to waste this stuff.  Oh no!   So I emptied my spray bottle and poured everything into the bottle. 

Clay left after pouring in bottle

Water bottle mess

Then there was the clay left that I should have had to start with.  Oh, there is hope.  I already had my hair sectioned in fourths, so I added the clay to each section.  I knew there was residual in the bottle as well, so to make sure I didn't waste any, I sprayed each section with the muddy water. 

I don't yet know how this will turn out but word to the wise, READ THE DIRECTIONS!!!!

Kee

Hair Knots

Over the last few weeks I have noticed a lot of knot in my hair.  I usually take my time and detangle really well but I'm still getting more knots than usual.  I decided to do some research and try to find out what in the heck is going on.  I came across this interesting blog and post.

Ugly Hair Knot!

Check it out:

NaturalHairGrows.com - Detangling Natural Hair Making You Knot Happy?

Let me know what helps keep you from getting knots and tangled hair

When In Doubt, Pin it Up

Monday, June 18, 2012


So we had a busy Father's Day Weekend.  I was bone tired when I finally got to bed and right before I closed my eyes, I realized that I did absolutely nothing to my hair.  No twists, flat twists, not even a head scarf.  I just said I'll deal with it in the morning. 

Ok - for  all you (4a/4b) naturals out there with medium length hair, you know that is a mistake.  I woke up this morning with dry hair all over my head .  When I hopped in the shower all I could think about was how am I going to get this done, because of course I woke up late!!!

First, I thought maybe a wash-n-go!  Nope, I have a meeting and wanted to feel more pulled togther..

Then I thought - a bun!  Nope, couldn't find what I needed to pull and keep my hair back... 

So finally, I thought I'll just have to pin it up and work it!

The mist and steam from the shower helped soften my hair up.  I added  a little shea butter oil and Shea Moisture Hair Milk to seal,  then threw a couple of twists at the top and clipped the back. After a few pins, it didn't look completely bad. 

On my drive in to the office, I untwisted the front added some earrings and lipstick.
Not half bad for a rainy Monday.

Twist Out with Lottabody & Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Monday, June 11, 2012

Ok, so I did absolutely nothing to my hair on Friday and Saturday other than to throw it up in a bun.  By yesterday, it was a very dry, tangled mess, but I had a few decent 3b’s representing for the cause to keep it from looking awful.  I had a headache, so by Sunday afternoon while doing chores even the hair clips and elastic bands had to come out.  I rocked an afro until the last minute. 

Around 7pm, I knew I had to start on my hair or it wouldn’t dry in time.  I did a pre-poo for about 1 hour with coconut oil and the last little bits of old conditioner (Giovonni and Pantene). I washed my hair with Shea Moisture and deep conditioned with the Shea Moisture conditioning mask.

I was then ready to detangle and twist. (Since it takes about 1.5 – 2 hours to do this, I usually get comfortable and start my Tivo for a movie or something.) I used a mixture of water and shea butter oil to keep my hair wet.  Each section was treated to a dime size dollop of KK Knot Today and Grape Seed Oil.  Once detangled, I used a small amount of Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Lottabody with Carrot Oil.   I twisted my hair all over with a side part.  It took me the better part of 2.5 hours. 

I was so tired when I was done that I did not and could not do anything else.  I barely got everything off my bed before I was closing my eyes to go to sleep.

Anyhoo, because I took the time to twist really small last night, my hair was completely dry this morning. I untwisted and voila!

Quick Bun

So, the last 2 weeks I have gotten a little lazy on Thursday nights.  My regular wash day is Saturday and I've been so busy by Thursday, I don't feel like twisting or braiding my hair up.  It doesn't  take too long but I just haven't wanted to do it!!  So I have decided to trying bunning again.


Yes, I've tried before with dismal results.  My hair was either too poofy or I couldn't get my hair tight enough and it just looked crazy!  lol.  Anyway, I have watched many wonder women on YouTube demonstrating how to get these slick, wonderful looking buns.  But it was too much for a 'quick' hairstyle.  I could just braid it up for the time some took.


So I had an old braid out and just wanted my hair up and to look decent.  And of course, quick!

My old braid out

So, I took some Eco-styling gel, a hair tie, EVOO my brush (which I rarely ever use), my water bottle and my satin scarf.

I started by putting a little EVOO in my hand and placing the hair tight applying a little on the entire tie.  This was to keep the tie from pulling my hair.  I then sprayed my hair until it was a little damp all over.  I then took some of the gel and began to put a light coat all around the edges, working around my head.  As I applied the gel, I would gather that section up towards the top using one hand and applying gel with the other.

Gathering my hair at the top

Once all my hair was gathered I pulled it tight and placed the hair tie around the hair.  I used my brush to smooth the hair.  Some areas were a little dry, so I sprayed a little more water and added some gel.  Once, everything was in place.  I simply tied my hair down with my scarf and I was done!!!! Yeah!  Less than 5 minutes.

Scarf


In the morning I added a little EVOO and tucked some of the hair at the top.  It was a messy bun and I didn't mind!

Happy bunning!!!

Henna

I love using Henna and have been doing so  for about a year and a half.  Many people use henna on their hair for the strengthening property and I'm no different.   I don't mind color and enjoy the red tone that comes from using henna.  I was recently having a couple of discussions with different individuals that like henna but said it was to messy.  I did have that when I first started but as with anything you have to adjust to suit you and your needs.

I use Curly Nikki's Henna Gloss and add a little more honey to help thicken it.  I don't have a lot of mess with the process but it also helps when I section my hair into fourths.  I also use large, plastic hair pins to section my hair and keep it in place.

Applied henna on 4 sections.

I like more color release, so I have started to prepare the henna on Friday evening and leave it in the refrigerator overnight.  Saturday is my regular hair day so it works out great. I first divide and finger detangle my hair.  I do use duck clips before just to keep my hair sections.  I start with first section and work the mixture through my hair gently  and then apply a gob from root to tip, gently massaging it down.  When that section is complete I twist it and secure with the plastic hair pin.  I continue the process with the other 3 sections.  I place a plastic bag on my head and leave it on for 4 hours or more. 

I have heard many complaints about the dryness of using henna.  In my opinion, these people are not adding proper moisture when doing their henna.  This is the reason for condition in the henna mixture as well as following up with moisture following the process.  Once I rinse the henna out, I use a moisturizing conditioner like Aphogee Balancing Moisturizer to help restore your hair's moisture.  I continue my normal routine.

Usually, I can only see the color in the sun but I still love it!!

What do you think???

Kee

Straight Hair

A few months ago I decided to get my hair professionally trimmed. It's been 2 1/2 years since I had my hair done by anyone. I started my natural journey by flat ironing my hair. As I began to research natural hair I stopped using any heat on my hair. No blow dryer, no flat iron, not even the hair dryer.

So when my stylist did my hair, it took some time. She blew my hair out and then worked her magic wrist and flat iron. I love my curly hair but I didn't mind it being straight. When My stylist was done, it was amazing to see how my hair had grown.

Oh people thought I had a wig on! Lol. My aunt just called cause she is thinking about going natural and she thought this was how I normally wore my hair. Surprise! Nope. Sorry! I liked out buy I can't do that heat.

I will get my hair trimmed every 6-8 months.

Here is what my hair looked like straight.

Fourths!

Today I am doing a henna gloss treatment I got at CurlyNikki.  I've read several comments on different blogs and a lot of women seem to have a difficult time with henna.  I love doing henna and especially the results.  I have learned to divided my head in fourths for the best results of everything! When I first started doing my natural hair, I would just dive in. I would just part random sections.  It was disastrous and I wanted to cut my hair off.  I think this is one reason why I had trouble detangling my hair because I was just mad and overwhelmed.

I read a blog or watched a youtube video (I honestly can't remember which one or who it was) but it changed my whole routine.  I detangle in the shower this way.  I style this way. And I do my henna this way.   The smaller sections allow me to effectively and easily work with my hair.  Best advice ever!



Section your hair in fourths the same way as if you were getting a relaxer.  When doing my deep cond or henna, I divide my hair up in four sections and use a large plastic hair pin.  I use this instead of the duck clips because it is very difficult to put a cap on with the duck clips.  To style, take one section and divided into however many braids, twists, or however you are styling.

 If you have trouble getting through your routine, this would be.  Try it and see if it doesn't make a difference.

Happy styling!

Kee

Winter and Dry Hair

Happy Year!!

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday.  Me and my family hung out around the house for Xmas and then up to Philly and NYC for the week.

We had a great time, but it was super cold, which brings me to the point of today’s post (in a roundabout wayJ).  I decided to get micros in November as a protective style.  They still look great, but I have had a hard time finding a good moisturizer.  I saw so many stories online about hair getting too dry and breaking off, that I became border line obsessedL. 

Well, a few days ago I just decided after washing and conditioning to just use my old standby of coconut oil and Oyin’s Juices and Berries.

It worked like a charm!!!  I don’t know why I was obsessing or thought I had to use something else.  I blame the many, many , many different blogs  and youtubes on natural hair and braids ;)

Now my hair and scalp look and feel good.  No more dry patches and the added bonus of the delicious fruity smell of the juices and berries.  My son swears I am holding out on the candy…

Luv  U 4 Real,

Dee

New Year!!!

Happy and Nappy New Year to everyone~!  I brought this New Year in with family and it was nice an quite.  As for my hair, having taken my hair out of the braids a few days earlier, I was just rockin' big braids after washing my hair.  I have done braids for twenty years but for some reason my hair is so dry!

I am trying to figure out if it is actually dry because it is cold as a big dog or if it is just my imagination because my hair has been tucked away for a while.  I finally wore my hair out yesterday to work and got great compliments.  Sometimes I'm just hard on myself or should I say my hair!!! lol

This year I am going to focus on just the health of my hair.  I have not had a good trim in almost a year.  In the next few weeks I will get in trimmed and continue to deep condition my hair to retain my moisture and health of my hair. 

Do you have any changes in for the new year and how you maintain your hair???