10.16.2010

BEFORE

AFTER

IJS! She was the bomb! Yessssss....

Now I'm not gonna front- JCPenny really thinks that they are a high end salon! I was floored when she said "well if I do a dry cut I'm going to charge you $26." She, for sure, read on my face you got me bent because she responded "I'm a master stylist, girl!" So you know what I was thinking, 'do what you do then boo!'

Before she even touched my hair, she listened to me tell my hair story and my expectations. I've been to many hairdressers who just jump in and cut every strand! They could careless about what you have to say and what style you'd like-but not her.

I told her about my 1/4" front and 1/2" back. She looked through my hair and made a few suggestions and then cut precisely what I asked her to do! No more, a little less-but I still had my length! I'll definitely be going back to Ms. Cerise!

10.16.2010

Although I was a week early for my scheduled clipping, I did not want to go another week knowing my ends were flat out ragedy. Another sure sign: I couldn't run my fingers through my hair with ease as I once been able to.

Additionally, my attempt to curl my hair was unsuccessful! It held the curl for about 10 minutes and then became tangled and again, when I tried to run my fingers through my hair, my ends became matted!

So, I hopped in the car, headed to the local mall and went to JC Penny's! Why- I could tell you because someone made the recommendation or I could say I'd been there before but the honest truth: God told me to go there!

Get it Straight

That night I allowed my hair to rest. I oiled my scalp with K for Konkashun, braided my 4 sections, sealed my hair with a silk scarf and called it a night.

The next morning I decided that I was going to deep condition, then wash and deep condition again! The first deep condition I used my handy dandy mayo recipe: 2 tablespoons of mayo at room temperature, 15 minutes under a dryer, thorough rinse and on to my normal washing routine.

I recently purchased the Giovanni Deep conditioning shampoo and conditioner-both trial size bottles as all TS bottles were 50% off at Winn Dixie. Both are great products, nice airy scent but the conditioner goes on thick but it turns watery after 10 minutes. However, awesome job at moisturizing my hair!

So the whole d.c., wash, d.c. process took me about 35 minutes, then I blow dried my hair. I could hear hair breaking and feel strands straining: time for me to get my ends clipped for sure!!!

HAIRstory #7

Hair Schedule 2010 - 2011

In honor of my previous post, I'd like to share with you my "hair schedule" for 2010 - 2011. Of course everyone's goal is to grow their hair longer; however, I've always struggled with having a baby mullet (as seen in my photo below: March 2007) so I'd like for my hair to even out before I try growing it longer. Meaning, I'd like the front and the back to be the same length visually. Currently the front is technically longer according to the ruler! But, the back appears to be longer because it trails down my back! Perception can often be deception!

I only assumed that the front would be shorter because I use to have bangs; however, this only allowed the front and the back to be the same length! Another hair dresser suggested that I get the back cut twice as short as the front to help me with the visual indifference. So, now when I go in to have my ends clipped I'm going to ask for a 1/4 inch in the front and a 1/2 inch in the back - I'll let you know how that goes Oct. 23rd!

The Hair Schedule 2010-2011
April 22nd : "Big Chop!" I started wearing my hair as a wash and go with ecostyler gel and a leave-in-conditioner. Realized I didn't like the shrinkage I experienced and reverted back to straightenings.
#front length: bridge of nose#

June 20th: Straighten hair for the last time before I decided to start a "no heat" regimen to include wearing protective styles, stretching by braiding as well as washing and deep conditioning weekly. (Usually a Saturday Fiasco)
#front length: between lips#

August 27th: Straightened hair after two months of a "no-heat" regimen.
#front length: cusp of chin#

September 4th/5th/6th: braided hair used 100% Kanekolon braiding hair. Used african insertion technique to match the natural hair braiding pattern.
#front length: cusp of chin#

Goals for the remainder of the year:
9/6/2010 - 10/23/2010: Wear hair in braids, washing bimonthly, oiling with K for Konkashun! (post coming soon) weekly, re braiding front braids as they begin to stress edges, remove braids gradually during the week ending 10/23/10!

10/23/10: Celebrate 2 years of permed-free hair and 6 months of being completely natural!! Make an appointment to have hair professionally deep conditioned, washed, PERMED-just kidding, pressed and my ends trimmed 1/4-1/2.

10/23/10 - 11/6/10: Allow hair to breathe! "No-heat" protective styles.

Weekend of 11/6/10: Re braid hair

11/6/10 - 12/18/10: Wear hair in braids

Weekend of 12/18/10: Unbraid hair

12/18/10 - 1/2/11: Allow hair to breathe! Because I won't be in school I'll be searching for new protective styles during this time.

1/2/11 - 2/11/11: "No-heat" regimen: Protective Styles, stretching through braiding, washing weekly.

2/11/11: Straighten hair for Valentine's Day! Wrap nightly to extend hair style longevity.

2/19/11: Re braid hair

2/19/11 - 4/16/11: Wear hair in Braids.

4/16/11 - 4/22/11 : Protective Styles

4/22/11: Celebrate 1 year of completely natural hair and 2 1/2 years of being perm-free! Professionally washed, deep conditioned, and trimmed! Can't wait!! Hopefully no more Baby Mullet!

HAIRstory #5

Know when to let go!

I was so elated once my hair appeared "even!" Psychologically, I was reaching a plateau, a phase in my life where I was comfortable in who I was. I was beginning to balance the person I had lost and the person I was becoming. Although still rocking permed hair, I allowed my hair to blow in the wind and found styles that I thought exuded my personality and spunk. However, the hair was still limp and lifeless, lacking enthusiasm unless an outside force encouraged it to have bounce and volume.


At the end of the Spring 2007 semester, I randomly decided to end a 3 year relationship. It was a long awaited ending, but we held on because it was convenient and in some ways we were co-dependant upon each other. Despite the happiness I presented to others, internally I was crushed. Not because I wanted to be with this person, but just all the bull I had put up with and for so long. Why did I allow this person to change who I was? Why was I living a lie because others said it would work? How could I forgive and forget just because it happens to everyone? Sounds like something else I know, a perm! Hmm...the irony!

In my state of depression, my ear patches continued to show my internal turmoil. My other hair strands would grow, but my ear patches would stay in the same growth cycle - never growing past my jawline. Soon after the break-up, another random decision, I said to myself: "You know what, I've got to take matters into my own hands!" So I began cutting my ear patches. I took the square right above my ear, combed it towards my chin, smoothed out the raggedy ends and cut them suckas off, too!


Now, you may be saying: Wouldn't that take you back to having a mullet? And, that's fine because my ear patches started growing. They were crisp and clean! In June 2007, I found Mr. Wright and he didn't mind me wearing braids all the time and that's exactly what I did! So, I must apologize: I don't have any pictures of my hair from Summer 2007 going into Summer 2008. In total I wore my hair braided for a little over a year and a half, allowing my hair to breath for 3 weeks at the most. I continued the cycle of perming, and clipping my ends as well as trimming my ear patches after each professional trim.


In August 2008, a year after trimming my ear patches every time I took my braids out, I saw growth and a thickness in my ear patches that I thought would never happen! Tried and true!

HAIRstory #4

One step forward, two steps back!

As I continued to see growth through the spring months of 2007, I maintained permed hair and clipped my ends in order to keep up with my ear patches. Because of this, I began manipulating my hair more than ever! Straightening, coloring, checking every day to see if my patches were growing. I couldn't necessarily wear a bun, which would be a protective style, because at the time, my ear patches wouldn't stretch back far enough! So I turned to wearing braids.


They were a life saver! Not to mention, I could braid my own hair; but it would take me between 12 and 16 hours slaving in front of a mirror. Needless to say, I usually opted to pay someone else to braid it: 8 hours! I found someone who was fast and efficient - she braided my hair for the entire Spring '07 semester. Once they were in, life was a breeze and my hair was finally resting.


I rarely wore them down, usually up in a bun or half up and half down. I was using synthetic hair - 100% Kanekalon. I didn't find micros and human hair too fancy because, from what I saw on other women, I wasn't able to braid past my hair and took the risk of my ends being exposed. I purchased a bottle of Doo Gro Mega Thick Growth Oil. Did it contribute to hair growth? Not really sure, but I do know it was a light oil that wasn't too thick on my scalp.


As if with unbraided hair, I washed my hair weekly with Nioxin paying close attention to my scalp. Sythetic hair can become very heavy when saturated with water and begin to pull on the hair strands. Therefore, it's best to blot the braids dry, wrap them up in a towel on the top of your head or use a hood dryer or handheld blow dryer to promote the drying process.

I wore braids from February to June 2007. Every 4 to 6 weeks I would redo the front section and every 8 to 10 weeks I would put in a new set of braids. Unfortunately, during this time I never took any progress pictures, got my ends cut, or colored my hair: just braids. Finally in June 2007 I took out my braids, permed my hair and went directly into the beauty shop to - you got it! Get my hair cut to match my ear patches. Finally, my hair was "even!"


With love to last a life time, K!

HAIRstory #3

HAIRstory: hair telling a story...my story...and I didn't have to say a word...WOW...I had permed my hair, I'd cut my hair, I'd dyed my hair. It is truly amazing how expressive hair can be. It is more than just a visual aesthetic.

My Perm:

I permed my hair because the climate of my environment encouraged me to do so. When we find things wrong or out of place, we fix them; make it WRIGHT. In its permed state, I found much ease in being able to manage my hair. Technically, I was changing the chemical structure of who I was. By hiding my true texture behind a shield of convenience, I was making a fork in the road between the real me and what my environment thought was me. I was shifting my existence; I became someone else and so the me I once knew - was severely damaged.

Cutting my hair:

I'm sure you know this, the oldest part of a hair strand is the end. *DUH MOMENT* I was constantly cutting my ends, even if it was healthy looking - I cut them off. Sometimes I really wouldn't need a cut, but 6 weeks had passed and it was time for a trim. Think about it: the oldest part of my hair that was the epitome of endurance, I'd chopped off! Gone, never to be seen again. I was so carefree about throwing who I was away. Honestly, I didn't think twice about it! Even though it was permed hair, it was more of my existence gone in the wind!

"That sure is a pretty color on you..."

And it sure is/was damaging my hair! When you dye your hair, it literally eats away at the amount of melanin within the cortex of the strand. For you to understand the damage, I was applying a substance to my skin that seeped through my pores and ate away the marrow in my bone! Talk about deep! And because people said it was cute, I kept it up. *Smack on the hand* I will probably dye my hair again to help it return to it's natural color. But once I'm there, I'll no longer be interested in allowing you, yes you, to lead me down a path of distruction!!

No, I am not my hair, but my hair sure is me! I am just now getting back to ME! Our frienemies, the world, our negative views of ourselves so easily throw us off the cliff. But remember, where there's a valley there will be a hill! I am on a mission to re-embracing who I am, accept who I was and what I've been through. I want to be okay in this mobile, self-efficient, God-given body, flaws and all! I no longer want to listen to your views of me. If I want to exude confidence, I've got to find it for myself! "Who gone' check me boo?"

With love to last a lifetime, K!

photos courtesy of P&G Beauty

Take The Transit

STARTER ROUTE

Many of you have voiced that you are transitioning, meaning allowing your new growth to grow in and maintaining your length by holding onto your permed ends. I took this same transit for 18 months! It is a trip worth taking.

5 Places to Visit:

1. Wash Depot: Decide what is more important, permed ends or new growth? If you choose the later, starting double washing! I would wash my ends with one type of shampoo and my roots with another. In 2005 I was introduced to NIOXIN - great for new growth and promoting thicker hair! Wash your permed hair with your normal shampoo and then wash your roots and massage your scalp with the NIOXIN. I would use NIOXIN conditioner for Natural hair on both textures. (Disclaimer: I no longer use this product because it contains sulfates! But, it is a great product!)



2. Moisture Mart. Sadly when you have a perm your goal is to keep it as oil-free as possible. Many of the products you use contain -cones that actually form a wall to keep water out. Although it will retain the current moisture your hair has, it prevents anymore from penetrating the cuticle as well! To help retain moisture throughout the day, choose a leave-in conditioner and then Sight See #3 and #4.


3. Style Zone on Patience. Don't be so quick to grab the blow dryer, the CHI, or call to make a hair appointment. You can do this! When transitioning, because you have two textures, you will be upset every day! Look at it from your hair's point of view-you're being weighed down by this lifeless, dead weight who won't do shhhh (stay-tuned..another story!) So what do you do- protect yourself. Protective Styles are key!! Whether it's braids, weaves, a bun, an updo -find one that works for you!

4. Style Zone on Proper Care. Braids, weaves, anything that is going to strain your scalp- be sure the person who is doing it, knows what they are doing. You get what you pay for! Braids should never be so tight that they cause bumps-at all. If so this means that the braid was inserted incorrectly. If you have braids, they should be smooth and go with your natural hair pattern. If there are kinks, knots, twist and turn in your braid, bluntly ask the person to start over -your dealing out the money, right? Wash your hair and be sure to blot your braids dry so that the water does not weigh your hair down -which would pull on your scalp. Weaves, they are so easy, but so hard on the hair! Again, depending on how they are inserted you may be causing unnecessary stress to your scalp. Once the scalp is damaged, extreme case is alopecia, it is hard to encourage hair growth. An alternate to a weave is a lace front. This way your are able to give your scalp the attention it needs on a daily basis, i.e. washing.


5. Sleep Right!! BIG DEAL HERE! Just as you did with permed hair, you didn't want your fresh wrap to wilt away - your curly locks will end up on your pillow if you don't protect them as well. I choose to cover my hair in a satin scarf and again with a bonnett. Double the protection. Remove any bows, barretts, metal items including pins, bobby pins, or clasp of any sort. This is the time to use a Leave in conditioner or oil your scalp. Olive oil, jojoba oil, and tea tree oil do wonders for your scalp! Steer clear of items containing petroletum or mineral oil. These clog your pores.


Until you reach your final destination, be sure to enjoy the sights! Trimming your permed ends off every 6 to 8 weeks allows you to retain the same length without seeing a drastic change.