Dive in the Pool…Surface Bald

Sorry that I’ve been away.  I’ve been uninspired and unmoved to write.  Natural can be like that sometimes…I’ll try to get better!  )

After jogging yesterday, my roommate and I thought it was best to go swimming to cool off and treat ourselves.  Know the damaging effects on chlorine, I used my Glycerine concoction heavily.  The refreshing water was wonderful and I got brave enough to dunk 1/2 of my head in the water.  From the days of my relaxer, I’ve been trained never to fully submerge.

Results?  CRUNCH CITY!  I’m not sure how strong that chlorine was but holy mackerel!!  My kitchen felt so crunchy-licious!  I’m also not sure if it was the Glycerine’s response to the chlorine jacked me up but oh my Jesus!  I co-washed with my Suave Natural’s Conditionerand entered the Sahara Desert.  Also, triple shrinkage sprang out of nowhere!  No pun intended.  It was sheer devastation.  This weekend, I’m planning to deep condition my hair with olive oil.  I will probably use my shea butter and perhaps another type of butter to supplement any natural oil lost. 

I highly suggest staying away from the swimming pool at all cost because the chlorine is WAY too damaging and to strong to fight.  If anyone has any advice, I’d love to get some and report on it.  Thanks!

Redpumpz

Hair Growth – Flax Seed Oil

Praise the Lord for some Flax Seed Oil!!  I was lost but now I’m found!!

My mother takes Flax Seed Oil religiously and her hair is up to her underwear strap.  LOL, yes, the panty line.  Although she straightens her hair, she has 2B/3A natural hair.  Then again, Cuban blood will do that.  Either way, she got me on a regime of Flax Seed Oil and Fish Oil.  Flax Seed Oil is my friend.  I saw two of my friends recently and they couldn’t stop talking about my hair length.  I only saw them 3 weeks ago!!  I told them that I’ve been taking Flax Seed Oil and one of them said “oh, that makes sense.”  Apparently Flax Seed Oil has a great reputation.

I typically take it as a daily supplement but I am considering using it as hair oil.  I can purchase the oil as is or be cheap and break the gelled capsules.  Either way, I highly suggest taking this supplement because, not only is it good for you, it makes your hair grow!!  

 

I Survived…

my family reunion.  Yes.  I’m still alive.  My family reunion went fairly well.  People were so caught up in joy that most of them didn’t even notice my hair.  A few of my Uncles were like “WHY?  WHY?”  I simply smiled and said, “Good to see you too!”  One of my Uncles said “wow, it looks fresh.”  I wasn’t sure if he was trying to be slick or what, but whatever.  I heard nothing overtly negative but did get a few stares.

My Aunt, who I hadn’t seen in at least 11 years, said (and yes, I do quote) “OMGosh, I want to go natural but its so hard and I don’t know what to do!  Can you help me?“  I wasn’t sure if this was a genuine plea for help or if she was just caught up in the excitement.  I’ll follow up with her when I get a chance and see where’s her mind at.

I stood next to my sister the whole night which was great because we both looked fabulous.  We hosted the event so we got tons of attention.  On another note, it made my hair look shorter because her freshly relaxed sleek strands were beautiful.  It was fine though, I was comfortable enough in my own skin and hair and I refused to let anyone take that from me.   Love it!

Sorry if the picture overlaps.  (

 

Beach Hair Care/Product Review

Everyone knows I’m a beach head.  However, THE BEACH IS NOT NATURAL HAIR FRIENDLY!!  The salty water and the sun can rip your hair apart if you let it.  OR you can always use the heat to your advatage!!  For Memorial Day, I went to the beach (yes, before giving myself the protein conditioner) for about two hours.  If you live in Florida, you understand my drama!!  

Before going, 1) I picked my hair out, 2) sprayed my Glycerine mixture in my hair, 3) lightly sprayed Ion’s Heat Protector on, 4) then slightly twisted my hair in small Bantu knots.  Okay, yes I was looking crazy but there’s definitely a reason to my madness.  It’s called health.  

I’ve used Ion products for some time and I really enjoy them!  The spray is made to withstand flat iron heat so it is definitely strong enough for natural hair in the sun.  The combination is a great moisturizer and is so needed to battle this Florida heat.

Either way, I kept the Bantu knots in for about 30 minutes or so as I flipped from side to side appropriately tanning away my pale legs.  Afterwards, I just let the knots free and fingercomb my hair.  Once I returned home and protein conditioned my hair, my hair was just WONDERFUL!!  It was soo soft and looked amazingly soft too.

Next time I am planning on going to the beach, I may do the same routine and wrap my head in Saran’s wrap before leaving my house.  I hope this info helps!!     

 

P.S. I said it first!!!

Great Deep Conditioner with Precautions

Sorry everyone!!  I started a new job (albeit unpaid) and I’ve been trying to brace myself with the busyness. 

Over the Memorial weekend, after going to the beach, I gave myself a deep protein condition.  I simply used 2 eggs, mayonnaise, and olive oil.  I fairly eyeballed the amount so that it was a creamy light yellow color.  After putting on the plastic bag, I wrapped my head in a towel for about 30 to 35 minutes.  DO NOT GO UNDER THE DRYER.  It was an excellent conditioner and obviously cheap.  If you need a quick deep condition, go for the gold. 

CAUTION!!  Because this conditioner requires the use of animal products, you want to be very cautious in case your hair is “protein sensitive.”  If you have protein sensitive hair, your hair will get very brittle and can tangle easier amongst the strands and begin to break if you condition too much with protein conditions. 

Fortunately I don’t have that issue.  I condition with soy milk, eggs, etc.  If your hair is generally sensitive, you might want to avoid animal protein conditioners overall.  Good luck!

Redpumpz

This is Not Hair Related BUT

I JUST HAD TO POST IT!  I got an email forward from my friend about a guy who was deliberately spreading AIDS to women.  I heard about him a long time ago and truthfully wasn’t moved until I saw his video.  I’m speechlessly disturbed. 

So in an effort to be fabulous and naturally famous, let’s educate ourselves and one another.  Here’s the website that has posted the video.  I don’t normally have anything like this and I’m not sure how fraudulent the video is.  But GO LORD his action goes to the veracity of his purpose…but this man should be shot. 

Don’t Fret – The Comments Never Stop

Please don’t fret because the comments never stop.  I’m home visiting my parents before I start my new job (more on that in a bit).  I PROMISE YOU….Every time I see my grandma (yes, the same one who rocks the wig) she always asks, “OMG, what did you do with your hair?”  I’ve learned to giggle it off and walk in the opposite direction but good Lord, THE COMMENTS NEVER STOP!!  My family is having a reunion this Saturday and I have tons of folks coming down from Brooklyn/Detroit.  They haven’t seen my hair and all I can do is bite my nails in anticipation.  Although I’ve been natural for six months, I still cringe when I think about my paternal’s family words and looks.  For now, let’s keep our fingers crossed.   

I say all that to say, if you’re in the process of going natural or are newly natural, please don’t allow family or “friends” to change your mind.  Don’t cry, wipe your eyes!  Being natural is wonderful!  Your family won’t know how great, so just show them!

Media and Natural Hair

I just recalled on an observation that I made waaaay before I was ever natural.  As I was wasting my brain cells on tv, particularly College Hill, I noticed that many (if not the majority of) commericals display African-American women with natural hair.  When I had relaxed hair, I always wondered why there was only natural hair.  It actually disturbed me…oh the ignorance.  Besides BET being the exception, I’ve noticed a beautiful plethora of two-strand twists, TWAs, and curly-kinky fros in commericals. 

Here are some examples:

Dunkin’ Donuts chick rocks a pony puff.

Heineken chick with 3A/3B fro.

Skintimate’s chick with 4A fro.

Playtex Tampon commercial chick with 3B/4A hair.  Could be chick from above video.

I’m sure there are tons of other commericals…if I find more, I’ll post them!

Reduce the Puff

I’m falling more in love with my afro but because of my environment (law school, profrossional, etc.), there are times when I simply have to reduce the puff.  Here’s what I’ve found useful recently.    By the way, my fro is still small so various measures should be taken depending on your hair length.  Also, this is written under the assumption that you’re using a wide headband of some sort. 

I typically sleep in a satin sleeping cap or tie my hair down with a satin scarf.  Once I wake up in the morning, (1) I lightly tug at my afro (mainly the sides and back area) to reduce bedhead.  (2) I then use a small squirt (about a quarter size) of my favorite leave-in conditioner.  (3) I then retie it down with a regular scarf (like cotton material or something similar) if I’m not co-washing it in the shower.  For some reason, regular scarves have puff-reducing effect for me.  It helps me manipulate the shape a little and reduce bedhead.  (4) Once I get out of the shower, I untie my hair and pull my hair backwards away from my crown.  (5) After lightly brushing my front edges and giving my hair a little more moisture (vegetable glycerine mixture or shea butter), I pull my headband* further back to the middle of my crown.

Keeping the headband closer to the front of your head will make the afro look bigger.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that my afro is growing out and getting thicker but there are times when less is more if you get my drift.  Also, by pulling the headband closer to the middle of your head, it makes your hair look longer.  Nothing but compliments!  Yay!!  Nothing wrong with that. 

I hope this small but useful trick helps you.

*The larger the headband width, the better and neater the puff reduction.  The headband I use to reduce my puff is typically 1 1/2 – 2 inches thick.  I found that it makes a huge difference in appearance.

Please Love Your Hair

Hi everyone, this is a reply to a comment on the Kink Links page.  I just wanted to stress how important it is to love your hair.  By the way, if you know of any noteworthy links, let’s kink it together!

Redpumpz

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DON’T GET A RELAXER!!  PLEASE!!

 

I’m sure you’re a beautiful person and I COMPLETELY understand the stress of natural hair.  I’ve never had a texturizer but I’m sure its practically the same as a relaxer.  Relaxers have extremely toxic chemicals.  Chemicals used in Draino and other products.  DANGEROUS!  Relaxer kits come with gloves for a reason…

 

Granted I’ve only had my hair natural for 6 months but I’ve never been so in love with my hair or myself as a person.  Before you get near that salon, ask yourself why you are relaxer your hair.  I’m not an “activist” but dig deep and figure out why.  Is it because of the manageability?  Remember, that’s all subjective.  Meanwhile, check out YouTube for inspiration.  It helped me get natural and its helping me stay there.  Here’s a nice video by Ms. Buttahfly.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d6gpkRO9fc

 

If you need a natural hair buddy, I’d love to help you out to the best of my ability.  If I can do it, you can too!  Please don’t get a relaxer, your hair will thank you.