I am still here!!

Hello all, it has been a while since I have posted, however finally starting to get some type of schedule that you will be able to see me more often.  I will be posting the latest pics later tonight and share a little of what has been going on. I am also now on facebook at Sunshine States Naturals if you would like to follow activities there.  So much has happened and God has been awesome!!!!!!  Will post pics later, ciao for now....

Not to fret my pets, lol

Here is the latest pic.  I just twisted my hair tonight after a co-wash, blow dry and two-strand twist.  Trust me you do not want to see it yet without blow dry, major shrinkage.  That all for tonight folks...........

Missed Me?

I know it has been a while since I have written but trust me the truth is stranger than fiction.  I have since found out that I am pregnant with my third (our fifth), travelled to Belize to see my parents for a week, asked my husband to "help even out my hair" which turned into another BC etc. etc.

Just to give you some background, I am sure someone can relate that besides the everyday thought of what to do with my natural hair today coupled with the first trimester not feeling pretty everyday blues I "thought" some change might be good.  As the old saying goes "if it ain't broke......", below are the pics of before and after.  Needless to say I regret it however it is only hair and it will grow back and I will NOT be cutting my hair again!!!!

The after is in the middle as if that is not obvious.  This blog has taken a turn that includes the emotional, physical and life process of being a black woman with natural hair.  There is way more that goes into this than anyone believes or understands unless one lives it.......more to come...........



Products I am Using Right Now

Well, here goes the list:
When I was Shampooing I was using:
Creme of Nature Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo (Kiwi Citrus)
Conditioners:
Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner (LOVE)
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
Herbal Essences None Of Your Frizziness
Just Received Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner
Cantu Shea Butter LeaveIn Repair Conditioner (LOVE LOVE LOVE)
Infusium 23 Original Formula (Leave In)
Moisture and Style:
Shea Butter
Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade
Miss Jessies Curly Buttercreme
Mixture (Water, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Lavender (for scent), in spray bottle)

It is late but next time I will try to say how and when I use them but I think it is self explanatory. I Co-wash once and then on second co-wash I detangle. I then rinse, apply infusium 23 and Cantu leave in and sometimes Shea Butter and style.  I use the other styling products to touch up for shine and smell during the 1-2 week wear period.

Will be checking out other people for styles because as you can see from the posts I wear a lot of twist outs and variations of it since I am just learning to flat twist, braid etc.  till next time, good night, good morning lol

More Twists

Hi There, how about I tried to cornrow the front of my hair and ended up finishing with Flat Twists. I am learning to cornrow but the "tutorial" that says try it on someone else first is right lol. Anyway, I had promised to place my hair regimen as I go along and here it goes:
Co-Wash (just Started) every one to two weeks
I wash in large twists as my hair is too thick and hard to handle otherwise
Co-wash once (shampoo)
Co-wash to detangle each twist and then put them back in
Rinse
Spray Leave In
Apply leave in Conditioner
Style
Let Air Dry

Tomorrow night I will post the products I use right now. I am what one would call a product junkie trapped in a frugal woman's body. I only purchase the products that have been researched and reviewed by other respected natural women seen on their hair diaries on youtube and spoken to via email or phone or face to face etc. I will attempt to list for you all that I have and definitely my loves (mmuh) at this point. If you can sense the excitement in my voice, it is because even though I am the busiest (wish I had a better word for that) i have been in my life with a husband and young family etc. I am the happiest I have been ever with my natural hair. This by the way just came about since June 1st if I had to pick a date. Love to all, signing off for tonight.......

Let me know if these pics are too small as I am still experimenting with the size for functionality.

P.S. My pictures for the twists would not upload so I will put them in another post, yikes, I apologize

Album for update!!

Hello my fellow natural hair wearers and family and friends that would love to keep up on my hair tactics. I have included a few photos for reference so when I say certain things you will be able to follow along. I must admit it has started to get a little easier to handle my hair, just as i started a blog about it with my woes. There are several things that come up in the everyday dealings with my hair however I may have started to develop a routine. Guess what I figured out, that I can just co-wash my hair and put in double strand twists and then wear them for a day until my hair dries. Then..................I can actually take them out and wear a "twist out" for up to the next two weeks if properly maintained. WOW. Once I check the exact steps for my regimen again I will be posting it. Today to say the least has been a journey in itself and God has been gracious yet again. For most of the day I had in my care 5 children, 11 and under and as the evening winds down I am actually finally unwinding and starting to feel like an adult again. Today I wore a large twist out which I set last night before bed, tomorrow I will show you a pic. Night, Night or good morning at this point.

This pic was taken on 6/14 2010. As of this date I am about 1 and 1/2 years natural this time. When my hair got unmanageable while pregnant with baby number one 12/08, I went to a "professional" to put in a texturizer which turned into a perm and then another big chop. I will keep uploading pics along the way for reference of where we are. Any ideas so far on type???? My hair is long but we cannot of course tell from this pic due to shrinkage which as a natural woman you just have to learn to deal with. I have spent the last two years searching for products that will help with moisture and not change the texture of my hair as well as help with manageability. In the next post I will upload my most recent pic that is WOW as far as my hair goes for moisture and manageability.

Feels Like A New Start

Well, of course in my first post I was expecting to give some history, however lets start at present as it is just that! I did for the first time today in my hair, three "correct" flat twists to go along a "braid out" that is the best ever. I cannot and will not, however, be braiding my hair this size all the time to achieve this look (lol). I am hoping that by cataloging my days as a naturally beautiful woman with natural hair (lol) it will assist me in some emotional and of course physical assistance with dealing with the "Kaya" the Lord gave me to the "Graceful" head of hair I now know it to be. As I publish these words to this blog I will be sharing pictures over my 30something years of having hair and the different things I have done with it. Let me just say that if I can help it I will not return to the "creamy crack". Also, the only things I have not done with my hair during these 30something years is a glue in style. That said I only had a sew in once and it was out within 24 hours. everything else has ranged from................ready????, braids, locks, perms, bobs, pixies, cherokee, texturized twa, etc etc etc. I have never been afraid of my hair until these last few months where I have been the most busiest of my life, with the least 'hair funds" and the best hair quality (thick, thicker and thickest). i will be looking to you for hair type assistance because I have not been "diagnosed", however I would say 4a this week. Looking forward to the next weeks update and I will have pics............