"Tracks on Tracks on Tracks..."

As I was checking out one of my favorite blogs, Natural Belle, a video was posted of students from The University of Manchester in the United Kingdom debating Afro/Caribbean hair. Although the video is slightly lengthy it's definitely interesting to see that the same stigmas and opinions on black hair is shared universally. Check the video out below.

The Breaking Point

Breakage is the devil. When I was relaxed, my hair suffered breakage like a mutha, which is one of the main reasons I went natural. My natural hair for a while was growing very well and evenly all over. But around October I realized that the front of my hair (i.e. them edges!) wasn't growing at the same pace as the rest of my hair. And then around the beginning of Decemeber I realized that they were simply breaking off.

That red line indicates how long the very front of my hair is...smh!

I didn't understand how this could be happening. I was taking really great care of my hair. Regular washes and deep conditioning. Low manipulation styling. Heat-free styles. Gentle detangling. And yet them edges were leaving faster than ever. And then it hit me. Them God-forsaken puffs! 

I love me a bomb, slicked back, middle of the head, 4inch sittin high, afro puff. It was my go to style since the minute my TWA could fit into one. And yet it is the reason why I'm going bald! Well... no where near that drastic but my hair definitely broke off like CRAZY. I think it was a combination of the pulling of the bands I was using, the tightness of the puffs, the over use of gel and the frequency of the style, that contributed to the loss of my edges.  

Honestly you can't tell just by looking. And I can't either unless I'm trying to slick back my hair in a pony tail or puff, but that's not even a styling option right now. NO puffs anytime soon. It's been 4 months since the last one and I'm in no hurry to wear one.

Lookin' real normal!

Looks can be deceiving! 

 And although I don't think this is directly due to breakage the hair on both sides, on the very back of my neck are identically super short as well. I'm pretty sure that it's because of a shape up I got last summer. And since I never got another one after that, strands "A" (see pic below) are just the regrowth of the shaved off hair. But look at how far it has to go to reach strands "B" which are directly above strands "A" (confused yet? lol). It makes some styling a bit difficult and I'm debating on whether I should just chop it off.

Although I know there is no miracle product that will allow me to declare myself Rapunzel over night, I do have some ideas that I'll be sharing very soon to help retain the length of my edges and hopefully stimulate growth!

Stylin': mini twists (update/maintenance)

It's been two weeks and my cute little mini twists are still giving me the business in the best way possible. This has been a very suitable substitution to the braided/twisted extensions that I've been longing for. I've received so many lovely compliments and exclamations from fellow naturals for me to get my hands in their hair lol! Before I big chopped I always wore my hair in a similar cut to where these twists fall. My relaxed hair never really grew past the base of my neck for years. So now that my un-stretched twists have made it to the length I was before the BC, I'm hype!

My night time routine/maintenance is very simple, which I need and appreciate. I lightly spritz the twist with water and then rub either coconut oil or my Shea Butter mix on the twist, focusing on the ends. I throw on a satin bonnet and then it's "Goodnight!" In the mornings I shake my hair a bit and then either pin the front out of my face or just let them "do what they do." And it's as simple as that.

The funny thing about these twists is it makes me long for locs...immediately! I'm just imagining short locs I can play in. Who knows...maybe it will come to be in the future. until then, i'll stick to the mini twists and genie locs.

Shay Buttah's Shea Butter

Source

For this healthy (ayurvedic/natural) hair challenge I've had to rely heavily on my shea butter mix as a moisture aid and a styler. Almost 2 years ago I started experimenting with different recipes to make the most beneficial mix. Know what I found out? You can basically use whatever you like! And that's why I love shea butter mixes. They can be so versatile and can be mixed to fit your direct hair needs. Below is the recipe I've been using to make mine. There are no exact measurements at all. I just add and mix until it...well...feels right in my soul! But you can add and omit anything you want. Experiment with different carrier oils, plant gels, pure plant oils (essential oils) and even scents until you find what works best for you!

Butter:

100% Organic Unrefined Shea Butter | Sealant for moisture, 

soothes irritated scalp, protects hair form weather damage (heat/UVs)

Carrier Oils:

Coconut oil | Great conditioner, light protein used to nourish damaged hair

Castor oil | Stimulates growth, prevents thinning, increase strength of strands

Extra Virgin Olive Oil  | Prevents dryness, conditions, improves strength and elasticity

Amla Oil   |  Conditions hair, strengthens strands, Promotes shine

Pure Plant (Essential Oils):

Vitamin E oil   |  Stimulates growth

Tea Tree Oil   |  Anti-bacterial properties, combats build-up, decreases dandruff

Grapefruit Oil   |  Stimulates hair follicles, fragrance

Tangerine Oil   |  Battles shedding, fragrance

Lemon Oil   |  Repairs hair sebum, adds luster, fragrance

Being a Natural Hair Renegade is OKAY!

One of my good friends (who is currently transitioning to natural) and I were discussing the great styles she can't wait to wear as her hair grows longer and when she eventually cuts off her relaxed ends. As we were talking she did tell me that her greatest concern with being natural was the fear that she'll have to be put into some type of "box" and even more importantly that she will be attacked by natural hair Nazis (figuratively of course). I wasn't really sure what she was talking about so she explained...

"I know you blog  but I don't want people to feel as if they know more about my hair than I do. I don't want to feel like I have to prove my naturalness by buying certain products, wearing certain styles and doing things to my hair that people feel like I have to do when  I cut it off. I don't want to feel like I have to follow certain blogs and videos to make sure i'm doing the right thing. Cause I feel like people make it their mission to make sure everyone does it their way cause they think they know best. Hair's cool but it's the least of my worries." 

I understand exactly how she feels. And I think a lot of newly naturals/transitioners/those considering going natural, feel that way too. I've definitely had people try and tell me what to do and not to do at the beginning and even now. Within my first year of being natural folk critized my obsession with long term protective styles, my use of cheap  products with sulfates/mineral oil/patrolum and all the "bad stuff" we are suppose to avoid. my use of pricey products, and washing my hair weekly. I know they were just trying to help and spit wisdom on my behalf, but sometimes their advice was mistaken for lecturing, and who wants to be lectured about hair??? I don't. And I'll definitely be honest. In the past I've been guilty of giving the side eye to some of the products my friends use in their hair. But at the end of the day when anyone who ask me what I use and what they should use I ALWAYS say,

1. Things work differently for every person

2. What works for me may not work for you at all

3. Experiment with different products, styles, tools and techniques until you find what works for you

4. You don't have to spend beaucoups of ducketts to have great results

5. DO YOU BOO! If hot sauce and ginger ale leaves your hair moisturized, shiny and silky smooth, you betta hit up a Costco and stock up!

\

But in all seriousness as much of a movement natural hair has seemed to become it really is what YOU put into it. You don't have to follow blogs, set up a youtube account, or go to a meet up to consider yourself "natural". Don't feel as if you have to make a blog showing your journey either. No one is asking that you blog about the different things that affect and take place in your life. You probably don't have a blog of what you eat everyday, the modes of transportation you take to work or the types of  different newspaper articles you read daily. But if you do that's great! 

The reason I started this blog was so I could watch my journey to healthy, long hair. It's what I'm interested in and it's what I choose to do. It was never about telling people what they should and should not do to their hair. It was created as a rexource of ideas, suggestions, methods and personal musings of not just me but anyone who wants to contribute. And so far it's been amazing! I hope no one has felt like I've "lectured" and if you have I do aplogize. That was never the intent and i'll make sure to keep that from happening in the future.

But anyway as always I love your feedback and remember although it is just hair, You have the right to be as engaged as you want to be when it comes to it. Don't let anyone discourage you  or make you feel as if you're not doing it right. The only right way is your way. Period.

*Happy Hair Days*
=D

This week's LUUUUST!!!

(Source: Tumblr)

notice anything particular about these photos? lol

Stylin': Mini Twists

Dropping by quickly to show you how I've been wearing my hair recently. I've been steadily rocking mini twists.

(I know the picture quality is 5 steps pass HORRID.
I swear I'm working on  getting a legitimate camera ASAP!)

I did them on soaking wet, freshly washed hair. And that is why they are SOOO short. I almost always twist my hair after having a stretched style. Usually right after I do a braid out, so I'll have more length. But I decided to try something different and despite the shrinkage I love them. 

(Shrinkage is CRAY!)

I didn't use any product with "hold" to twist them. I only used Giovanni's Direct Leave- In as a leave in conditioner and after I completed my twists I sealed the ends with coconut oil. I wanted them to be light, bouncy and movable. (so the less product the better!)

 

To my amazement it didn't take very long either. I t only took me three episodes of Misfits to occupy the time.  

Once they start looking unbearable I'll just redo each twist, one at a time, and luckily doing it that way will also help elongate the style the next time around.

This is sick...

 I don't know if I should laugh or cry....So let's just skip the intro and jump right into it...

Let's just hope this isn't a universal mindset...

Natural Hair: a sport?

From the guy who bought us, "Yo Boyfriend don't like you're natural hair?", comes a new video that I think you'll enjoy (for more ways than one...at least for me ;D) Check out SJSafety18's video and channel.

*Happy Hair Days*

 =D

#ROCKTHELIPS

Today, March 8, is International Women's Day! International Women's Day was founded in 1910 as a day that each country would devote to recognizing and addressing the needs and concerns of women. It remains an important day not just for women, but for everyone. 

Rock the Lips is a really awesome social media campaign that brings awareness to the day in  a really creative and fun way. All you have to do to show your support is rock a red lip! Share your "power pout" by snapping a pic and tagging it on Instagram with #RockTheLips (or sharing your photos on Twitter, Tumblr and all forms of social media). It's a simple yet fun and meaningful way to acknowledge gender inequality, education and health care, violence against women, income disparity and recognize the power and value of women everywhere!

(For more info visit HERE.)

Will you rock the red with me today?

Be the Change You Wish to See in This World

When I was in high school over 5 years ago, I watched a documentary called Invisible Children. Ever since then I have supported this organization by having film viewings at my school, buying bracelets as donations, collecting offerings at my church for the cause and just educating people about the situation. You can't believe how entirely happy I am that people are spreading the awareness of something that they may not feel effects them personally but truly does. We are all of this earth and should do our best to see fit that justice and opportunites are given to those who effect our greater community. Take a few minutes to step away from the hair blogs, to stop looking at the hair tutorials and to pay attention to something that TRULY matters.

Wait...you're black and you wash your hair daily?

Source: Black Girl with Long Hair

I just wanted to quickly share this sorta funny experience with you all. It always seems like I have the most interesting conversations on the metro going to work in the morning. And most recently they've been random conversations about hair with random strangers. Yesterday on the train this friendly, older, white woman who was sitting across from me told me that she loved my hair. Of course I thanked her for her compliment (even though to me it was a real basic braid out that I usually sport daily) but she kept telling me how beautiful it was and how she wished she'd see more people wearing that "uniquetexture."  I choose to ignore the fact that about 5 other women on the train was also sporting natural dos....She asked me what I did to get my hair to "look like that" and we got into a pretty long conversation on products and routine. I told her I wash my hair about every week, and let me tell you she was FLABBERGASTED! You would probably think she was surprised by how infrequently that is, since a lot of women with straighter hair tend to wash their hair either every day or every other. But she was actually surprised at how often I washed it. She even asked if I was sure that it was healthy for me. Even when I told her that I only usually shampoo once or twice a month and co wash other times, she was generally concerned for the excess amount of water that usually hits my strands.

I told her that my hair needs A LOT of moisture for it's continued health and the best way to get that moisture was with water. And that the frequency of washing is specific and varies for each person. But she told me that she had always learned that black hair could only be washed about once month or our hair would fall out.

It got me thinking of all of the myths we have about all types of hair. And how the majority of these teachings are passed down through our families. But yeah, I just wanted to share that encounter with you guys. At this rate I'm sure I'll have more train convos to share with you in the future lol.

#marchmadness

 (Doesn't she just make you wish for Spring? Source: Tumblr)

Another month has zipped by and it's already March of 2012! I honestly keep thinking that the New Year Day was yesterday! Because the days/weeks/months are flying by I've decided to be on top of this here blog. So for the month of March I'll be trying (really really hard!) to write at least one post every day! We'll call it March Madness. And yes, it may drive me mad lol!

I'm really excited for the challenge and the opportunity to communicate with you all more. If there's any thing that you would like to see here this is definitely the time to let me know. I'm always more than open to here new ideas, to answer questions, to give advice and to take advice from anyone! SO let me know what you would like to see a post on (or a series of posts) by leaving a comment or emailing me at Shaybuttahh@yahoo.com. (yup, double "tt", double "hh") Since my old email address crashed and burned sometime in January I thought it would be good to create one especially for the blog!

Thank you everyone for your continued support and I hope you enjoy the madness coming this month!