It's not that hard!

Sweet simple and to the point.  That's how my natural hair routine IS!  I haven't become a product junkie, the economy won't allow that.  I don't think that just because it works for you and we were born on the same day that it will definitely work for me.  My initial day's of my journey were exciting and I was intrigued by the variety of curls and kinks that my sisters in the journey possessed.  However, I made up my mind that I was not going to allow this journey to over take me.  So with that being MY case, I have had the pleasure of having great hair days and dastardly day's.  Days that a hat was all that would tame my mane and days that my curls gave plenty whiplash.  I know that many say it's hard and many say it's a cake walk but in the end it's what do you say!  I say it's not that hard. 

Find your groove, find your lane!  Master that hairstyle and wear it well.  Find that product and make it work for YOU (Whether it's 100% natural or not...after all you don't seem to mind all the by products that you are consuming IE, Mickey D's I'm just saying)  so be the leader of YOUR strands take them by the palm and demand them to listen and let them know it's not that HARD.

Don't Beat yourself up....There's alway's Tomorrow

I was sitting and thinking.  Before I even realized it I was here!  Yup, you're here with me.  You're at the end of  the just a minute, the i need an hour, a day, a month heck, almost a year and here WE are again! Where, what, when, why, did I, didn't I or should I have.  How did I get here.... Sigh, exhale and yet we're puzzled and here. 

Now if your thinking What the **** was that first paragraph about then to you I say congratulations on defining where and what you wanted to do and pursuing it.  This article is most likely not for you.  However, if that paragraph engulf who and where you are right now, I want and NEED you to know that you are not alone.  I also want you to know that it's not to late!

"We only have 60 more day's to complete that vision that goal, that degree, find the right (blank) or get out of this situation!"  To you I say stop!  Stop putting yourself in a time box.  Goals are important but life sometimes happens.  Sometime inevitable circumstances and events demand our attention.  Sometime a moment just to go with the flow takes us into a longer phase than intended and that's okay.

So, stop right now and let's do an inventory check.  Let's evaluate where WE are.  *Breathe! Yes the year will soon be changing but guess what, from this day forward you still have 365 days to get it right and today, right now is day 1!  There's no step program, there's no purging of issues it's just as simple as making up your mind.  Allow today to be just that, today.  Build for tomorrow and enjoy your progress step by step.  Figure out what is mandatory and build from that point.  While your focused look in the mirror smile and release yourself,  because after all there is always tomorrow.

Natural Hair...Elegant?

As my hair anniversary and birthday approach, I asked myself, "Can natural hair be grown and sexy?"  I mean it's big, it's ecclectic, and it's is definately fierce.  But is it sexy?  Is it exotic? does it lure or captivate your husband, fiance or boyfriend's eye?  I know your thinking, "it's how you carry yourself or your thinking it's the confidence that you exude through the individual."  But can we be real, for real, for real?  Is our hair sexy and if so which hair styles exemplify the look of sophistication, the look of a renasance classic.  Which look screams black tie event or all white party?

I may be coming off or seeming as if I don't believe that our gorgeous, coily, volumized locs can display itself as sophisticated, vibrant young and sexy but that couldn't be further from the truth.  From the tappered fade all the way to the pinned up loc I know that our hair has the amazing ability to lend itself to mandating attention by passer bys to admire every curl tossed all the way to bone straight silence. 

My question is "Are we displaying this side of our natural hair."  Have we been conditioned to think that because we are natural that we have to ALWAY'S display our hair in it's natural state.  I challenge US.  We have accepted our hair for the glory of how it grows, now let's have fun and shut the nay sayer's mouth's.  Let's show them natural IS sexy sophisticated and we wouldn't have any other way.  The next time that affair comes up flaunt your hair not, a wig, a weave or an extension but your hair in whatever form it decides to show it's "Diversity"

Must Haves for Naturals

Okay I won't go on with a huge introduction I'm just going to make a list of great items to have for natural or just healthy hair.  No reason, no purpose just a grocery list of products.  Later if I remember I'll list the benefits.  Here goes.

An excellent Moisturizing conditioner.  My favorite, Herbal Essence Totally Twisted
Leave in conditioners
Olive Oil
Shea Butter
Gel. My favorite, Eco Styler Gel
Baking Soda
Flax Seed
Water

Bobby Pins
Hair Pins
Soft Brushes
Wide tooth comb

Head bands
Hair accessories
Satin bonnet
Spray bottle
plastic containers
Detangler

These are the basic things that have allowed my hair to thrive I hope they do the same for you.

Unprepared for Bad hair day...Try this!

We don't have something to do or go somewhere important to go everyday and today happened to be the one day that I was to do nothing.  The last of the lazy days of summer I will sit effortlessly doing nothing.  I sitting and enjoy the view from my back yard patio and enjoy a refreshing class of water.  No frills, no whistles, no bells, just old fashioned relaxation.  Those were my plan until my phone rang alerting me of a text at 4am asking if I were going prayer walking today!  By today I assumed they meant when the sun actually rise for what I call the "Morning".  Sigh, my morning, my day that I actually thought was still was night was interrupted by a charity request which I love and am always ready to do, so without hesitation my simple reply to my 4am disturbance, *cough I mean invitation was a gracious, yes.
The alarm rang and I casually collected my thoughts to prepare for the invitation that I had accepted only to be greeted by my untamed mane that I intentionally gave no thought to.  I had every intention to actually do nothing. Here are a few options to get through those unruly, I had no plans hair day's.

OPTION 1

A wig.  No need to explain this one.  The color length and maintenance are already prepared.  Slide it on (with of coarse a wig cap to protect your hair) and proceed with plans.

OPTION 2

Wash and go puff.  Wash your hair, add a moisturizing conditioner that will allow enough slip and glide to your hair to detangle.  Carefully gather hair to the crown while neatly laying your edges down with gel product of choice, and use that wonderful tie of your choice to hold in place.  For the neat together look apply a scarf around the edges to lay fly away's down.

OPTION 3

A hat.  Not my favorite but it is an option.  Yes, you can rock as smooth as a fedora or as casual as a baseball cap either way wear it and wear as if you meant to!  Again be sure to protect your hair from pulls and tugs by placing a lining in the base of the hat.

OPTION 4

Stay home.  Yes, enjoy the one day you have a week to do absolutely NOTHING.  Boy this water is great!

When to get PROFESSIONAL HAIR HELP!



bglhonline.com

So your on this journey with me.  I have to assume this considering after all your reading a "natural hair blog." Or maybe you are considering leaving the white Crisco alternative alone.  Either way let me warn all of you back of the house, in your bathroom late at night COSMOTOLOGISTS!  Yes, COSMOTOLOGIST.  Eh hum,  SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP WHEN TRIMMING, DUSTING, OR CUTTING YOUR HAIR. 

Yes, I am yelling because, yes it is that serious.  I have been natural for 11 months eagerly educated myself and researched and cross canceled...You get the picture I studied, every technique known yet I made the reckless mistake of UNEVENLY  big chopping.  Now this was not a problem at all in my earlier phases but I tell you Bob, or Karen or you, I hate that I now embark on my 1 year anniversary after have retained a bit of length yet in my 11th month noticed that I will at some point have to ...cut a CHUNK to even it. 


Now I know that this doesn't have to be done now I can just let it go slowly but my point being I could have avoided this had I not Big Chopped at 2am in the morning after watching endless hours of my fellow Youtubers!  As a whole I am pleased with my length retention and a great deal of it has to with protective style as well as my 6 month transitioning.  I have to say a piece of me sure wishes that the whole of my head was as long as the piece that effortlessly touches the collar bone of my neck.  Sigh, lesson has been learned so YOU don't have to. 

The Simple Love of My Natural Hair

Okay, I am Natural no shock or surprise.  It's quite obvious when you take a glance at the texture of my hair.   I love the freedom that I have with my hair.  I love the way that there's no stress if my hair gets wet.  I love the way that my hair responds when I pamper it.  I love the fact that I can actually eat my products, meaning that the cost of beauty supplies has greatly decreased.

 I must admit that I miss the days of literally washing and literally going.  Those were the days of foundation.  I used those initial day's to spoil, show off and spoil my curls.  That maybe the reason they respond so obediently.  I miss the day's of just wrapping my hair and going to bed.  Finding new styles in my new length and allowing my hair to welcome a friendly conversation is so refreshing.

I realize that the word transition is not isolated to transitioning from perm to natural.  I find myself constantly transitioning from length to length, regimen to regimen and product to product.  Each phase demanding to be recognized for it's new texture and specialized need for care.

 I know that I have options and I know that this is a journey but for now I am enjoying the simplicity of my hair and truly enjoying the journey.  No matter the length, the new Scientology, or the in product, I sincerely am loving the simple nature of my hair.