Scalp Massage + Oiling the Scalp

It is important that we massage our scalp and it is important that we oil our scalp with natural oils. So why don't we kill two birds with one stone??? (I can't believe I just put that phrase up).

The benefits of scalp massage:
1. Promotes hair growth by stimulating the scalp
2. Increases your relaxation
3. Conditions the scalp
4. Increases the strength of the hair roots
Source: www.hairlossexpert.co.uk

The benefits of oiling the scalp:
1. Prevents a dry scalp that can lead to breakage
2. Decreases flakes and dandruff
3. Promotes hair growth--depending on the type of oil used
4. Helps fight itchy scalp

Now that I have listed the pros of utilizing these techniques, I will now list how I incorporate this into my regimen. About every other night, I will use my natural oil that I purchase from a local business owner. This oil is very lightweight, has a wonderful smell (mango), promotes hair growth, and so much more. (I have not reviewed this oil because it is not widely available.)

The process:
1. Drizzle a small amount of the oil on my fingers.
2. Reach into my roots to begin massage.
3. Gently massage the hair in circular motion using the pads of my fingers--NOT the finger nails.
4. Continue to do this throughout the head. I have a system of doing the front right, then the front left, then the back right, and then the back left. This ensures that I get every part of my hair.
5. Then, I'm done. I am left with a massaged scalp, an oiled scalp, and a great smelling scalp!

Natural Celebrity Stylist: Felicia Leatherwood

She is so beautiful! And I have the exact same necklace--with earrings to match.
This style is simply gorgeous! It reminds me of my pinned up twist outs.

So, this morning while on Facebook I saw the MOST GORGEOUS hairstyle on the model Tomiko Fraser. In the past I featured Tomiko as a natural inspiration because her hair is simple beautiful. So, then I checked out the Fan Page for this stylist and I loved it! Her name is Felicia Leatherwood. She is so creative with the hairstyles. She has done styles for Jill Scott, Tomiko Fraser, Anthony Anderson, and much more.

The styles above are hairstyle she has done that are simply beautiful. Even though I don't wear extensions she does add them for some of her styles. Nonetheless, these styles are creative and beautiful.

She is also featured on BlackGirlLongHair today. Click HERE to view this article.

Check out her facebook page and become a fan so you may see more of her work. The page is under the name "Loving Your Hair with Natural Care Workshops".

And here is the website for Ms. Felicia Leatherwood: http://www.lovingyourhairwithnaturalcare.com

We Take Care of the Health of Our Hair...What About Our Bodies???

This blog's main focus is about natural hair and topics related to it. However, we take extra pains to make sure we have the best products for our hair. Why don't we make sure that we have the best consumption for our bodies?? Me and my sister, Auset, were discussing the importance of having a healthy weight for our body.

Check out her post about healthy bodies HERE.

My Natural Album: On Facebook

I keep a album on Facebook of most of my natural hairstyles. Click HERE to view it:

I figured this would make it easier for any followers who wanted to quickly see the various hairstyles I have tried. This is a public link so you should be able to view it even if you do not have an account.

Beautiful Natural Men: Malcolm Jamal Warner

I must admit that as a child (and even to this day), I thought Theo from the Cosby show was so cute! Malcolm Jamal Warner grew to be a nice looking man. I adore his locs and I love the different lengths that they were. I believe he has now cut his hair, however; he is still featured as a Beautiful Natural Man.

What Natural Celebrity or Characteristic Do People Throw at You???

These are the comments I have gotten since being natural:

"Hey, Erykah" --from my Aunt

"I look at you and I see you have that whole Erykah Badu vibe going on." --a man from my job

It is so funny that when we become natural how people want to put us in a box and link us with some natural celebrity. (What is so funny to me is that people call me Erykah yet, Erykah Badu wears a natural wig.) My sister, Auset, gets Angela Davis all the time. I think this is because of her lighter complexion.

Another thing I've noticed that people do to naturals is attach them to certain characteristics. I've listed a few of these stereotypes below:
1. We are a part of the Neo-Soul movement.
2. We are political activist.
3. We are heavily involved in our community and its issues.
4. We are vegetarian or eat only white meat.
5. We smell like natural oils, burn incense, etc.
6. We smoke marijuana.
7. We only listen to Black artists and certain genres of music--such as jazz, blues, neo-soul, etc.
8. We write poetry.
9. We recite the poetry at Poetry Jams.
10. We refer to everyone as "My brother" or "My sister"

I could go on and on. And I'm not saying that I don't fit some of these stereotypes (because I am vegetarian, love natural oils, and Neo-Soul music) however, this does not define all naturals. I also love some country, pop, and never smoked marijuana in my life. Being natural should be looked at as simply accepting our natural beauty. Yet, I think it's easier for people to define a person in order to try to understand where they are coming from.

Have you been attached to natural celebrities? What assumptions have people made about you simply because of your natural hair?

Weekend Hair

Can you believe that this is a pic of my twist-out on the 6th day?? I simply bobby-pinned the front section back. And this is how it came out. I kinda like this look. Now I know what to do with my old twist out that no longer has its shape.

Hairstyle: Cornrows (on my sis, Alison)

Yesterday, I did my sister's hair in a cornrow style that leads to a low pin-up.

Here's what I did:
1. I cornrowed most of the hair.
2. I left a small section free in the back, which I individually braided.
3. I then pinned it all up using 2 bobby pins.

Is a Comb Really Needed??

Since I have been natural, I have decreased my usage of combs significantly. Simply put, they are not good for the hair--especially, if you are seeking to obtain length. However, the main combs I stayed away from were fine-toothed combs. I used to use wide-tooth combs when I would detangle. Recently, however, I realized that I almost never pick up a comb of any kind.

Here's an example of why a comb isn't needed in my current regimen:
1. I wash my hair and detangle with my fingers while its wet.
2. I will then put twists in my hair without using a comb. I only use the comb's rat-tail end to make my one part on the side since this part is going to be shown.
3. I keep my twist-outs in for about 3-4 days. I don't retwist my hair during this time. I just gently tug at my hair after taking my satin bonnet off to reshape my twist-outs.
4. I then repeat this process.

So maybe a comb may not be needed for my current regimen. This does not mean that I plan on throwing out my wide-tooth combs or picks. I mean, some months down the line I may put in some cornrows or other styles that require precise parting. Now as for actually running a comb through my tresses, I don't see that happening ever.

My main comb has been my fingers. :-)

Natural Blast From the Past: Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni is a great poet!

She has been natural in every single picture I've ever seen of her. Presently, she rocks a short TWA. But, back in the day she was wearing her hair much bigger.

I have decided to leave post a poem by her below. Love it!


Nikki-Rosa
By Nikki Giovanni

childhood remembrances are always a drag
if you’re Black
you always remember things like living in Woodlawn
with no inside toilet
and if you become famous or something
they never talk about how happy you were to have your mother
all to yourself and
how good the water felt when you got your bath from one of those
big tubs that folk in Chicago barbecue in
and somehow when you talk about home
it never gets across how much you
understood their feelings
as the whole family attended meetings about Hollydale
and even though you remember
your biographers never understand
your father’s pain as he sells his stock
and another dream goes
and though you’re poor it isn’t poverty that
concerns you
and though they fight a lot
it isn’t your father’s drinking that makes any difference
but only that everybody is together and you
and your sister have happy birthdays and very good
Christmases
and I really hope no white person ever has cause to write about me
because they never understand that Black love is Black wealth and they’ll
probably talk about my hard childhood and never understand that
all the while I was quite happy.

The Stages of my Twist-Out

This past Sunday, I twisted my hair on dry hair. I used my Jamaican Mango and Lime Locking gel. After I put the twists in, I distributed EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) on my hair that night. The next morning I applied some Grapeseed Oil and proceeded to take down the twists. When I take down my twists I use my shea butter/EVOO mixture to seal my ends.

I had planned on washing my hair tonight. However, I am curious to see how the twist-out will look on Day 4 hair. I have also noticed that my twist-outs last longer when I dry twist them--as I did this set. So far, my fave day of the twist out is Day 3 because the volume/bigness of my hair is so pretty to me. On Day 3, I put a comb in the right side of my hair. I won't be wearing the comb tomorrow because I only wear accessories in my hair once a week.

Day 1 - Twists are more defined and have a nice sheen.
Day 2 - Twists are not as defined, but still defined. They still have a nice sheen.
Day 3 - Twists are less defined, but have very nice volume. The sheen is not as great.

I Have Hair Envy:-)

Update: I have been informed that this beautiful model is named Tondi and she even has a blog. Go check it out HERE to see more beautiful pics of her.

I have seen a number of beautiful and gorgeous natural hairstyles. But...I am SO in LOVE with this model's hair! I just had to post this pic. I have no idea who she is, but I do know that her hair simply inspires me. In a previous post, I listed my hair goals. My goals included having SUPER thick hair and a hair color. This model is the epitome of how I dream of my hair looking when I listed these goals.

Now, don't get me wrong. I do LOVE my hair--even with the problems I have experienced with it. Yet, I must also admit that I am simply inspired by this model's hair.

Her hair color is so beautiful! I probably won't ever venture to a color like this because I know I could not obtain this naturally. And I now stay completely away from chemicals--even hair color. I don't even think henna will give me this vivid color.

But, this is all fine. I will simply admire her hair and give her props for this gorgeous head of hair;-)

NOT a Staple Product: Blue Magic

Everywhere I go, I can't seem to get away from Blue Magic. They sell this stuff at almost every store I go to--CVS, Family Dollar, WalMart, etc. And my mother and sister still has jars of this stuff in their house for my nieces. (I continuously tell them to stop using this stuff). And I even have a jar of this stuff in my house from my permed days.

Now, let me say something about this product. NO one should use this grease. Whether you are permed, pressed, or natural. The ingredients are simply horrendous. In the past, I would use this grease right before I flat ironed my permed tresses. My hair would feel so heavy, have no body, and dirt would catch on it so easily. When my mother and sister puts Blue Magic on my nieces hair all I can do is cringe. First off, this stuff is too HEAVY to be used as a scalp treatment. Then, my nieces would go outside to play and all this dirt would be on their scalp because it caught onto the Blue Magic like a magnet. Ewww...

Let's look at the ingredients: Petrolatum , Lanolin , Lecithin , Mineral Oil , Fragrance , Green 6 , Violet 2

First off, there are two MAJOR no-no ingredients that I see off the bat.

Petrolatum and Mineral Oil. Petrolatum is bad for the hair because it will clog the scalp and block moisture from entering the scalp--this is bad for growth. Then, we have mineral oil which is horrible because it is a by product of the distillation of crude oil to produce gasoline and other products made from petroleum (Carother,2009). Doesn't this just sound horrible. Also, mineral oil is also responsible for clogging the pores.

Green 6 and Violet 2. There is NO need to add color to a hair product--or any products. Products should be as natural as possible. Adding colors makes this product un-natural and add ingredients that can not be good for your hair.

Fragrance. What type of fragrance? And this stuff does not smell so great. So was it really needed?

Lanolin. Lanolin is actually a decent ingredient. It is very effective at penetrating the surface and enhancing moisture retention. Lanolin is also beneficial because it continues to absorb moisture from the air, and can thus act as a humectant for the skin or hair. (Hairlicious Inc.com) Yet, by adding the mineral oil and the petrolatum the benefits of this ingredients is now null and void.

Lecithin. Lecithin is also a good ingredient. Lecithin is important to healthy hair growth. It also helps to break down fats, is essential to cell membranes, improves brain function and keeps cells from oxidating. (eHOw.com). Lecithin does aid in hair growth. There is even a lecithin supplement that may be used for healthy hair growth and other benefits. However, I again reiterate that you can not have Petrolatum and mineral oil in this product and expect to get the benefits from this ingredient.

Therefore, this is NOT a staple product. Simply put, this product will not allow for your hair to prosper and grow to its full potential.

Sources:
Carother, D. (2009, July 19). Should Mineral Oil Be Used on the Hair? Retrieved July 21, 2010 from, http://www.articlebase.com/hair-loss-articles/should-mineral-oil-be-used-on-the-hair-get-healthy-hair-now-1050163.html

Hairlicious Inc. (2009, August 9). Hair Question: Is Lanolin Good for the Hair? Retrieved July 21, 2010 from, http://www.hairliciousinc.com/2009/08/hair-question-lanolin-good-for-hair.html

eHow.com (2010) Lecithin for Hair Growth. Retrieved July 21, 2010 from, http://www.ehow.com/about_5366825_lecithin-hair-growth.html

Could I Be With a Man Who Didn't Like My Natural Hair???

So recently, while on BlackGirlLongHair, there was a post about a lady with beautiful natural hair--gorgeous natural hair. But, her boyfriend of 7 years did not like it. He never came out and said he didn't like it until she asked and on another occasion he called her a "mophead". Check out that article HERE.

Now, this is a topic that me and my sisters discuss frequently--being with a man that accepts us for who we are. First off, I abhor any man that puts stock in the physical appearance of a woman. We must remember that our looks will change--it's inevitable. Is he going to leave me when I am not as beautiful as I once was? Second of all, it is not right for a man to dictate/have an opinion about how you look naturally. What right does he have to give you his opinion on how he feels you should look?

It's imperative that we remember to accept ourselves completely. I am at a point in my life that I have full acceptance of myself as a person. It has taken years and many lessons learned to come to this level in my life. So, why would I allow a man to come into my life that will make me feel insecure or horrible about the way I look or feel?

When I went natural, I was so pleased that I was doing it as a single woman. I did not have to worry about what a boyfriend/husband may think about it. This transition was solely about me and for me. Any man that now has an interest in me will see my natural tresses. This is a part of me.

About a couple of months ago, I went on a kinda date. It was with a guy I had an interest in and I was curious to see how this would go. The date was horrible simply because he was a very crude person--I don't do the sexual innuendos. Very disrespectful. I wore my hair in a full afro. He asked me "So, what's going on with the hair?". Then, he touched my afro. I simply stated that I would no longer conform my hair and choose to embrace my natural texture. "Oh ok. I feel you," he responded. That was the end of that conversation. I let it be known where I stood with my natural hair. He understood that this wasn't simply a hairstyle for me, but a lifestyle. A lifestyle that would not be changed.

We must let it be known to the men/friends/relatives in our lives that our natural hair is fully embraced by us. I won't compromise on my natural hair simply because it is more than just hair for me. This is about me accepting myself as God intended for me to do. This is about me loving myself as I was made naturally. On this issue, there is no compromise for me.

So my answer is "NO, I could not be with a man who didn't accept my natural hair."

Natural Inspiration: Rachel True

I remember first seeing Rachel True on the movie "The Craft" back in the '90s. Even then, she was rocking her gorgeous natural tresses. And she continues to wear them to this day. Her hair is simply gorgeous and the color is unique. I love that in most movies she wears her hair naturally. She also wore her hair naturally throughout the TV series "Half and Half" that she was on for some years. It shows me that there is not always a need to conform/straighten our natural hair just to obtain a role.

Part II: My Hair Regimen

I am sure you have noticed from previous posts that my hair regimen has changed since my hair loss. I took some of the advice from the Youtuber, lovennappiness. However, I don't think I will continue doing some of the things she suggested. For instance, she suggested co-washing the hair twice a week. I tried this for two weeks. I don't like doing this. I felt that I was manipulating my hair too much by continuing to detangle it. Also, this was time-consuming.

So, these are the changes to my hair regimen:
1. I no longer braid my hair every night. I twist my hair only twice a week. When the hair is not twisted I simply put my satin bonnet over my loose hair. (Also, my hair is getting bigger than my satin bonnet. Soon, I will need to find some other form of a hair covering. This is still a good thing:-)).
2. After co-washing or shampooing my hair I put in twists on the damp hair instead of the braids.
3. I don't only oil the hair at night. I sometimes oil it in the morning. My main oil is EVOO, but I also use Coconut oil and Grapeseed oil.
4. I now use Hollywood Beauty Castor Oil Hair Treatment on my scalp. I apply it daily to the small patch of missing hair. I apply it once a week to the rest of my hair. (Review coming later on this product.)
5. Lastly, my main and only style is the twist out. I am afraid of manipulating my hair too much or putting in too many accesories. I want to obtain stronger hair before I use anything that may pull/put pressure on my hair. **This should not apply to everyone. I just feel that my hair is not strong enough to withstand too much manipulation**

Please note: The changes in my regimen are mainly due to the hair loss that I experienced. I felt that I was doing something wrong so I am taking steps to avoid this mistake again.

A Staple Product: Grape Seed Oil

I must admit that I have never really thought about grapeseed oil until my hair loss. It was suggested on some sites/blogs/vlogs that grapeseed oil really helps with hair loss. It was for this reason that I bought it.

I initially used grapeseed oil on my scalp, but this did not work out at all. See...grapeseed oil is a very lightweight oil (not like the EVOO or the cocount oil). The oil was running down my face ALL DAY. I felt like I had a Jheri Curl and the juice kept leaking. I thought maybe I used too much and the sun (I was at a cookout) was making it do this. So, then I put on a lighter amount. It was still running down my face (and this time I was in a building). My sister, Alison, was like "you have something on your face". Aargh! So, then I thought maybe I should only use the oil in that spot--where the hair loss is. And it still leaked onto my forehead! I said, "I can't do this. I don't want to walk around with a cloth to soak up the oil on my face/neck." So, I stopped using it all together. But, since I am a thrifty chick I started thinking maybe I could use this oil for something else. I now apply it to my hair after my twists have been put in and on the twisted out hair. It works wonderfully for application to the hair only--NOT the scalp. And I still use a small amount. I simply spray it into my hands, rub them together, and gently distribute it through my hair. It gives my hair a nice sheen and makes it feel so soft. The brand of Grapeseed oil I use is Spectrum Grape seed oil.
These are some of the known benefits of Grapeseed Oil:
Grapeseed oil is popular because it is odorless and full of minerals and vitamins that help strengthen your hair. It is an odorless oil, and can help add shine and moisture to your hair. Grapeseed oil is known for having a high content of linoleic acid, an important fatty acid that supports cell health.(CareFair.com) Also, because it is lightweight it is better able to penetrate the scalp.

My pros:
1. Gives a great sheen to the hair without weighing it down.
2. It claims to strengthen the hair (I still need to use it over a period of time to note any change). I am seeking to have stronger hair.
3. It is odorless and does not compete with any scents from my other oils or perfumes.
4. Provides moisture to the hair and therefore, makes my hair feel so soft!

My cons:
1. May be too lightweight for the scalp because it will run into the face/neck. Not a great oil for the scalp.
2. This oil has a relatively short shelf life of 10-12 weeks. So make sure you put the date that you bought it on the bottle.

Sister Going Natural

It is now official. Me and my sisters are all natural! Yay us! So, it is actually four of us--all girls. The first one to go natural was my sister, Alison, back in 1999 (she went natural off-and-on). Then my sister, Auset, went natural in 2006. I went completely natural in 2010. And now my sister, Joy, did her BC yesterday. I must admit that I was shocked. I would have never expected her to go natural, but she did. She even said that she is not going to perm her daughters hair anymore. I must admit that I LOVE this. Soon, my mother will be cutting off the remaining permed ends of her hair. Then, we will truly be a natural family. It is a beautiful thing that we are all beginning to accept our natural and glorious beauty given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hair Today: Jazzed Up Twist Out

So, this is day 3 of my twist out and I changed it up slightly.

This is the last day I will be wearing this set of twists. The twists are not as fresh and I'm not sure if they will hold up another day. Tonight I will be co-washing my hair and then putting in some new twists. I now co-wash twice a week since my hair loss. I received this advice from the Youtuber lovennappiness. She suggested co-washing the hair more when you experience hair loss. (I def need to update my hair regimen).

Now for today's style I simply took two bobby pins and pinned up the sides of my hair. I really like this look. It brings more focus to my bang. I will only be wearing the pinned-up sides once a week because I am afraid of any kind of continuous pressure on my scalp--even though I can't even feel the pins:-/

Contemplating...

So...

I have been contemplating for some time now about starting to do videos for YouTube. I mean, I really don't feel it is necessary for me to do videos because there is so much wonderful support on YouTube. However, I feel that it would be great to show myself achieving my various hairstyles instead of just blogging about it. One problem I do have is that I am not a big fan of the sound of my voice. Crazy, I know:-/ So, I may just do videos showing me doing the style with music playing over it and displaying the instructions.

This is still a contemplation for me right now...

My Hair Goals

It seems that when it comes to most naturals, we tend to set goals for our hair. For instance, some naturals seek more moisture. Others may seek to have a constant edgy and different do. And the most popular goal that naturals seek is obtaining length. I must admit that I have some goals for my hair also. And I plan to achieve them all.

1. I want to have "goddess" status hair. (I learned this term from BlackGirlLongHair). What it essentially means is that I want to have hair that is SO thick. Like SUPER thick. Like HUMONGOUS hair. The steps I'm taking to achieve this is avoiding anything that may thin or break my hair. I avoid heat, blow drying, fine-tooth combs, combing my hair excessively, sulfate shampoos, etc.

2. I want to have strong hair. When it comes to type 4 hair--despite what most people may think--it is the weakest hair. Because the hair is so curly/coily it tends to wrap around other strands and form knots. These knots can then begin to break. Also, I want to obtain a stronger structure for my to decrease the amount of shedding. The steps I'm taking to keep my hair strong is to detangle knots gently, taking Biotin tablets to help with the structure of my hair, and sealing my ends. Ever since my hair thinned in that spot, I have an interest in obtaining strong hair. I may implement some new methods in the future...

3. I want to increase the length of my hair. I know, I know... This is a common goal for many naturals; yet, it is still a goal of mine. I don't have a strict goal, such as "I need bra strap length within a year." But, I do want to see an improvement in my hair. I don't want my hair to reach a certain point and then just stop. In five years, I am curious to see where the length of my hair will be. And this may not be a forever goal. Meaning, I can see myself in the coming years getting a haircut or layers. My inspiration in terms of length would have to be the blogger of http://naturallyobsessed.onsugar.com. Check out her blog HERE. I feel the my current routine and regimen will help me to achieve length.

4. I want to color my hair. Now this is the hardest of my goals to achieve. And I think it is hard because I want to have hair color, but I want to obtain it naturally. NO chemicals. The only natural method to color hair seems to be Henna. However, I hate the possible mess that may occur with henna. So, I still have no idea how I am going to achieve this goal.

For now these are my main hair goals. Do you have any hair goals??

Naturals in Adverstisement: Sprite

I simply adore this advertisement. The Sprite Shock ads are quite unique. I think the model is simply gorgeous and I love how they implemented her hair as a part of the advertisement. Notice that they have the sprite gushing out of her natural hair. Too cute!

The model is Anita Bordeaux. She is a commercial model and in the past she used to model for weaves. But she has now embraced her natural hair. Visit her website HERE to see more of her beautiful photos. She may even be a natural inspiration in the future...

Hair Today: Twist Out...again

So, I have been serious about not putting any kind of pressure on my hair. This is why I have been diligently wearing my twist-outs. In the past, I would always try something new with my hair (excitement over being natural). However, sometimes it is truly best that we keep our hands out of our hair. When I wear the twist-outs, I can go about 2-4 days before I need to re-twist the hair. This is a low-manipulation hairstyle--and its now my staple style.

I actually just received a compliment on my hair. And I must admit that compliments makes us all feel nice:-)

Heres what I did:
1. I co-washed last night with my Suave Naturals in Coconut.
2. I deep conditioned for about 15 minutes with the Suave Naturals Coconut.
3. I rinsed the conditioner out.
4. Alert! This is a change: I did NOT use any leave-in conditioner. Mainly because I can not find the perfect leave-in conditioner. My Cantu Shea leaves build-up. The Giovanni takes too long to soak into the hair. The Garnier leave in is just not all that. So, I told this problem to my sister, Auset, and she suggested that I use oils as a leave-in. I did and I loved it! I used EVOO (my FAVE oil) on my damp hair--section by section. And it left my hair moisturized and soft.
5. After applying my EVOO, I applied a dab of the Fantasia IC Olive gel to each section that I was going to twist.
6. Twisted all the hair, slept in it overnight with a satin bonnet, and took them down this morning.
7. When I take my twists down, I usually seperate the two seperate pieces to obtain a fuller look.

Update: Regarding my hair loss

Right after I experienced my hair loss I contacted Jc of the Natural Haven blog. If you are not familiar about her blog, it focuses on the health and science of natural hair. Her blog is great because she provides information that is backed by research. So, it really helps us to take care of our hair and understand the reasons why we do certain things to our hair. She provided me with some great information about my problem. The email exchange is below:

My email:
Hello Jc, the Natural Haven I have recently went completely natural on April 5, 2010 after 10 months of transitioning. I have a dedicated hair regimen. This regimen includes oiling my hair with natural oils (olive and coconut oil), using shea butter for my hair ends, co-washing (Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, Suave Naturals Coconut), and shampooing with Giovanni Deep Moisture Shampoo (once a month). I also braid my hair every night to prevent detangling and fairy knots. I avoid heat, blow drying, gels, and pressure on my edges. I have about 4B hair.

Imagine my surprise and outrage that I found just yesterday a small patch of missing hair. I have been feeling so down and depressed over this. I believe the missing hair is attributed to my tying a scarf on my hair and catching some hair in the scarf that I did not notice. This small section of missing hair is really bothering me and makes me feel as if maybe I don't know what I'm doing completely with my natural hair.

Are there any products or oils that can promote growth in this area? May you suggest some to me? Does this mean I have weak hair because this happened so easily?

Thank you in advance,

Constance C.

P.S. I have attached a picture of this section of hair. It is near the top crown right behind the middle twists in the front.


Her response:
Oh this is so unforturnate Constance! I am not a dermatologist by training and I really cannot give you a diagnosis. I would say that your hair does really look quite nice shiny and thick. I actually had a similar mishap when a piece of velcro got stuck in my hair (I blogged about it too!).

I cannot say if your hair is weak without testing it but I l will say that hair breaking under stress is normal.

In my personal opinion, I think you should just wait and see if the hair grows back. It can be as long as 3 months for the hair to begin resprouting. Do keep up the careful upkeep of your hair, it really does look good.

As far as products go. I blogged about garlic and onion as growth aids. I do believe I received some emails and comments saying this worked. Here is the link
http://thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com/2009/06/reader-questions-week-garlic-for-hair.html

Other people have talked about emu and castor oil but I have never seen science to back these claims.

If you do try the onion, do let me know if works for you!

ThanksJc


**I appreciate that there is so much support in the natural community. It is a very positive thing that we help/aid others, which is essential to our growth. I am going to take her advice and wait 3 months before I see a dermatoligist about this problem. I have noticed that some of the hair has begun to sprout back. However, I have also noticed that this area is still very weak. Just this past weekend, I still noticed some strands leaving this area. I am still on the fence about using the onion or garlic on my hair. I think I will wait to see what the progress is. I am praying that I may restore this area and that it may grow back stronger and thrive. My lesson learned from this experience is that I will NOT use any kind of headbands (or accesories) that may pull/put pressure on my hair.

My Transition Days...

I have not talked much about my transition process, however; I feel this information will be really useful for this blog.

What is transitioning? Transitioning is the process of going from relaxed hair to natural hair. Most people choose to transition for a certain period of time to avoid having a very short ceasar cut or TWA. Transitioning allows for the natural hair to have more length.

How long did I transition? I transitioned for 10 months. My BC was on April 5, 2010. I had plannned on transitiong for 16 months. Then I said maybe 12 months. However, I gave in at 10 months.

Why did I choose to transition instead of immediately doing the BC (Big Chop)? I chose to transition because I wanted to transition my thought pattern about natural hair. In the past, I was the last person who liked natural hair. I felt it was cool for others, but felt I would never rock a afro myself (however, I always loved locs). Because I had these negative feelings toward natural hair, I knew I needed to accept it in my mind also. I feel if I would have done a BC immediately I would have probably hated my hair. I kept a journal to track my thoughts on natural hair. And at about month 8 I was really ready to let go of my relaxed ends. However, I was still hesitant about how it would look and tried to endure for the planned time. By month 10, I knew without a doubt I was ready.

How did I deal with the two textures of hair (relaxed and natural)? I mainly kept my hair in cornrows for the entire process. I would simply co-wash my hair on the weekends and then braid up my hair. Sometimes I would wear the cornrows out and other times I would wear it under a wig.

What did I avoid during my transition process? I did not use gels, heat, natural oils, or shampoo during my transition. There is nothing wrong with natural oils. I just never used them for some reason during my transition.

What were my main products? Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner. Cream of Nature Lemongrass Leave-in (I do NOT use this product any more b/c it contains pretrolatum). Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Oil.

What were my main styles? Cornrows, Pinned-up braid out, and Wigs.

Did I enjoy my transition process? For the most part I did enjoy my process. I loved watching my coils come in. It looked as if my natural hair was competing with those relaxed ends. And the relaxed ends were looking so pitiful:-) However, I did start to get frustrated with the process and was ready to embrace my natural hair.

My transition story was feature on Curly Nikki. Check it out HERE.

**WARNING** This is a picture heavy post.

This is my cornrow style--my first transition style.

Another design for my cornrows.
These are cornrow extensions that I wore only once b/c they pulled too tightly on my edges.
This is my first wig...a lot of people loved this look.
This is the second wig I wore.
This is that same wig styled differently.
Same wig, styled differently.
I started to HATE the wigs and wore my hair in a braid out pinup (I pinned in the relaxed ends).
Braid out pinup again.
Braid out pinup again.
This is when I started cutting away my relaxed ends. (Half relaxed/Half natural)
This is my hair fully natural, April 5, 2010.

Beautiful Natural Men: Aaron McGruder

What a controversial figure he is! I must admit that I admire Aaron McGruder for focusing on the issues within our community. I know some people hate what he stands for, but I believe the hate comes from others rejecting the truth. The truth hurts. He shows us that we still have a long way to come as a people in various aspects of our lives.

His animated show, The Boondocks, brings issues to the forefront. These issues include health, politics, ignorance, and so much more. I think some people may watch The Boondocks only for a good laugh. Yet, he is still giving a message through the show.

Now, let me go on to why he is a beautiful natural man. First off, that baby face he has is so adorable! He always looks michievous to me--like he's up to something. I also appreciate those beautiful eyes and that cute smirk he seems to always wear. Lastly, his free-formed hair is just gorgeous. I think he has cut his hair since the first pic, but nonetheless he is still beautiful.

A Staple Product: Fantasia IC Olive Gel

I must admit that I am not an avid user of this gel. However, recently I have tried to increase my use of this gel (since I bought it). In the past, I used it about 2-3 times on my edges before I went to bed. Then, I stopped using it. However, since I am wearing twist-outs more often I decided that I could test out this product and provide a review of it.

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), Dimethicone Copolyol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Polysorbate-20, Benzophenone-4, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Parfum).

Pros:
1. Gives great hold to the hair.
2. Brings out the curls in the hair.
3. Does not give the hard, crunchy feel to the hair that some gels do.
4. This gel does not contain any alcohol which can be very drying to the hair.
5. Gives a great hold to the edges of the hair.

Cons:
1. It is not the most moisturizing gel.
2. It claims to provide a sleek shine but, I have to add oils in order to obtain a sheen.The shine it provides is not the best--my other hair gel has a better shine.
3. It makes my hair feel dryer which is another reason I add oils to my hair.
4. The smell is average--this is not a major con.

I can say that I will most likely continue to use this product. I am still on the fence on whether I will re-purchase it. I think I may stay on the hunt for a moisturizing gel that gives great hold. So far, my favorite gel is still the Jamaican Mango & Lime Locking gel. Look at my previous post here of my twist-out with the JML gel. There is a much better sheen.

I mainly used this product to set my twists when the hair is wet. And I must admit my twist out today is looking beautiful to me. Below is my hair today. I wet twisted it with the Fantasia IC Olive Gel yesterday after I co-washed it.