NATURAL AND HAPPY (1 year & 8 months hair journey update)

In February 2012, I did a big chop after 4 months of transitioning on apl (arm-pit length) hair. I started my natural journey with about 1 to 1 1/2 inches of hair.  My style was almost a twa (teeny-weeny afro).  With 4 months of new growth, you would think I could have just kept transitioning, but I did not. The rationale for this choice was to go ahead and learn what products/techniques my natural hair texture would like the most without having to cater to two different textures AND the dreaded line of demarcation (you know, where the permed hair ends and the natural hair begins).  Also, just to be real with myself - I knew I was not going to be as patient, gentle, and timely with treatments as transitioning hair demanded, so the short do really worked for my level of commitment.

Please do not misunderstand - this does not mean that I was able to neglect caring for my natural hair, it just means that the time required to care for my hair overall was decreased.

Over the past year and 9 months, I have through many styles: from wash and goes' (where you just co-wash, add some leave-ins, maybe some gel, and go!); to afros; to mini-individual twists on natural hair; to twisted cornrows under wigs; and wigs, Wigs, WIGS, and more WIGS!.  With the wigs, I must confess, sometimes my hair got neglected and dryness was able to creep in which led to struggles with single-stranded knots, tangles, split-ends and breakage.

I must be completely honest, loads of trial and error with moisturizing techniques, regimen building and testing different products have occurred, as predicted, throughout this year. I have also had about 3- 4 major trims which leaves me to the main point...WHERE IS MY HAIR NOW?

Well, as of November 1st, 2013, after a major trim and flat iron, I am happy to report that my hair is SHOULDER LENGTH (sl) and I am loving it!!! I do believe that with a little more TLC during the first year, I could have easily been apl by now, but I won't complain. I will take what I have and take this journey one day, week, and year at time. I now focus on maintaining health, health, health, and try to check length maybe twice a year or less!

My goal length by 2015 is full mid-back length (mbl) (which, prayfully, I WILL make!).  I will also try get more committed to posting my products, techniques, styles and progress at least on a monthly basis on this blog, so stay tuned for more updates.

Enjoy YOUR hair journey.

 Sincerely,
Graceful Confidence 

February of 2012 marks the last big chop for me. I did a bc back when I was 18, then permed about 2 years later (after my son was born). Finally, after growing my hair out to arm-pit length, permed; I decided that I would be natural for the rest of my life. I vowed to myself that once I graduated college, I would return to my roots. In February 2012, I finally took that leap of faith and let go of the chemicals. It is a learning curve for me all over again, but I am sure glad I did!!

I love the me God created.
The End.
(Maybe)

My HHJ Mainstays

There are a few quick things I need in my hair journey.

1. I love tweaking my regimen every 30 days. See my format here: http://keepitsimplesista.ning.com/profiles/blogs/may-2010-reggie-note-to-self. I'm only a year and a half into my hhj and my major set back was not listening to my hair. Trying to put it on a schedule was, for lack of a better term, stupid.
2. I must, must, must take my vitamins. Besides being for my overall health, they are great for energy (I feel slightly sluggish without them), and excellent for rapid hair growth.
3. I MUST work out everyday. I may rest on some Sundays, but usually I am doing something daily. Even if my family and I dance for only 30 minutes, I have to move. My favorite routines are on bodyrock.tv. These intense workouts are reminiscent of P90X or Insanity. MOST IMPORTANTLY: tracking my weekly exercise takes my mind off of watching my hair.
   
4. Flat irons, hot curlers, and pressing combs are a NO-NO in my regimen. As much as I am tempted, I do not use these tools because I have abused them in the past. So now I am forced to learn what to do with my hair without them because I don't own any.
5. Oils for: prepooing, mixing with co-washes and dc's are a must! Coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil and cold-pressed castor oil have helped me tremendously on my hair journey.
6. Blogging is best for tracking what I do in a chronological manner without the fuss. I've tried the hand-written thing, taking pics, forums, Microsoft word, Microsoft one-note, notepad and other methods, but blogging seems to be the neatest, easiest, and most fun.
   
7. Last, but certainly not least: A GENTLE HAND WILL RULE THE LAND. My main issue with breakage is that I am a heavy-handed chick and that needs to stop (not to mention I rarely get manicures).
   

A regimen to stretch with...

So, I am 17 weeks post and so far this stretch has been the most successful yet. I am learning to change my reggie every 30-60 days to keep up with my hair's ever-changing needs. Right now I have sl relaxed strands sitting on top of a 1 and 1/2 inch afro. The different textures are driving me crazy!!! So it's time to braid it up. Prayerfully the braids will last me all summer semester (I'm almost a senior in college!! Glory be to God!).

Tonight I plan to:

• Pre-poo with evoo (it would be castor oil but I ran out, I am a big fan of castor oil)
• Wash with hair one olive oil
• D/C with steam from my bath with my mix of Lustrasilk's Shea Butter Cholesterol plus, HE HH, and a tablespoon of each of the following oils: Vitamin e, tea tree, and grapeseed oil.
• M/S with V05 and water mix in my s-curl bottle and doo grow oil
• Air-dry in bantu-knots
  

This by far my favorite regimen for hair that has 1 inch or more of new growth. It softens both textures so that I am able to style more easily.