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 

Wigs and Stretching

Well for February 2011 I basically did what I had been doing since the beginning of the year. But, with all of the extra new growth I was getting tired and I almost relaxed during I break I had the first week of March. But, then it hit me: BUY A WIG (or two), and that is what I did.

With the wig regimen, I have been wearing my hair in 6 cornrows and spraying them daily (almost, maybe every two days) with:

- Aloe vera juice and 911 leave-in spritz
- African Royal Braid x
- Mane 'n Tale detangler (only if I encounter a knot)

Also, I try to take each braid down at least twice in the week, spritz it with my moisturizers, remove any shed hairs and moisturize with my ORS green lotion (which has also been watered down with aloe for a creamier consistency).

- Sealing nightly, especially on ends and edges with Doo Gro oil or SAO.

I am trying so hard to stretch until August 2011, but I still, still, still experience some breaking. Although, I think that I only get about 5-10 broken strands per week. I don't know if I am paranoid or what!

What I want to do on wash day May, June, and July to get me to August 1 is:

- Detangle dry hair using Mane' n Tale spray (gently of course from ends to root)

- Deep condition on dry hair with my Lustrasilk mix (CON, Lustrasilk Shea butter mango, Roux porosity control, peppermint oil, and other oils)

- Shampooing with Hair one 3x's a month and Cream of nature only once a month when I do my ORS rep pak (possibly after my Aphogee 2-min) OR for a lighter protein route, I may just add Mane 'n Tale to my dc mix up above because my new growth does not like the medium protein.

- Co-wash often with Tresumme or Dove (something ULTRA moisturizing)
(especially after each workout)

- M/S nightly with my sprays and light oils (my hair responds better). I will only use ORS green lotion on the ends on each wash day before I seal.

- I will try to rollerset (with Fantasia IC) before I braid with endpapers (my hair responded to this well also).


If this does not work in May, I will be relaxing and trimming.