Category: Natural Hair

Roller Set Results

I was petrified walking into Sally’s Beauty Supply, especially after a stressful moment with my son about his report card. It doesn’t take much to over spend in that store. Y’all know how it is? You go in for a bottle of conditioner and come out with some hair clips, a $5 decorative headband, and some fingernail polish.

My target of the day: setting rollers

 

I used 1 1/4 pcks of these

 

Since I’m taking a break from the salon I decided to try a roller set of my hair. Of course that means I was watching YouTube. Anyway, I asked my beautician to do it on my last visit but she discourage me.

“Well you know it’s not going to look like you’re expecting. It’s going to be poofy.”

Not wanting to pay her to give me poofiness I decided this was a style I needed to do myself. I left Sally’s with 3 packs of rod rollers couldn’t pass buy 2 get 1 free); 2 packs of magnetic rollers (intended purchase), and 2 combs. Total cost $21– not the worst total I’ve accumulated  at Sally’s.

Last night was the night. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a pic of the before but here’s the pic of the results.


  
I like it. It’s soft and full of body. All I did was put a flat iron to smooth out the roots.

I tried to maintain the curls with two big Bantu knots, like one You Tuber demonstrated but I only got two days of curls I could wear loose. After that I pulled my hair in a side ponytail for the rest of the week.

Overall this process works great as a means of straightening or stretching my hair without heat. Surprisingly, I was okay sleeping in the rollers and it didn’t tak long to dry.

This method/style will definitely be a staple for me going forward.

Til Next Time,

L.A.

Fun Friday! Big Hair Don’t Care

Feeling myself…Feeling myself…Feeling myself…in my Beyonce voice. Lol!

   
   

Have a great natural hair weekend!

Naturally Yours,

L.A.

April Hair Styling Challenge-Day 27

I guess I was fooling myself to think I was going to get through this styling challenge without putting my hair in a bun. Whether I like buns or not–and I don’t–they’re definitely an easy go-to style. 

I had plenty of time this weekend to spend on my hair but sometimes you have to use your free time for something more productive– like cleaning out your overcrowded closet or enjoying the moment! I did a little of both :))
On Monday morning I created this:
  
Two days later, this is still not my favorite style but I totally LOVE tying my hair up at night and already being prepared for the morning!

April Natural Hair Styling Challenge Day 22

  

This one garnered a lot of attention at work. Surely because it was super cute! Achieved by simply two strand twisting my hair with a little bit of Shea Moisture Styling Milk.

It also garnered as many compliments as it did too because the day before it was, admittedly, on the blah side. And that was because when I twisted it the day before that I was slack on product and oil so the ends were frizz galore.

As the month is coming to an end I’d really like to do something different but with the time I have available in the mornings before work that’s highly  unlikely. What I’ve learned in the challenge is that if my hair is not set in a protective style for the week, the only thing that I’m able to do without a lot of fuss is wear twist outs. On a good day I might have time to spruce it up with a couple of hair pins!  

Nevertheless it’s been a  good run. Every natural girl should take some time to climb out of their comfort zone, get a taste of the unchartered path of their natural hair journey. You just might like it.

Have you tried something different with your hair lately? Please share!

Naturally Yours,

L.A.

April Natural Hair Styling Challenge

I really, sorta, kind of wanted to exercise after work yesterday. But since I spent the weekend relaxing with the family, I neglected my weekend errands including grocery shopping. Two days of ordering pizza for dinner was more than enough motivation not to put off the inevitable any longer. So when we reached home at the end of the work day I was running back out on a mission replenish my kitchen for the week. THEN…my hair was screaming for a reprieve. Besides spritzing  with water, I hadn’t done anything to it in over a week. I transitioned from a twist out, to a high puff and I’d planned to see how long I could make it like that but my hair put an abrupt stop to that game plan. 

It was 8 o’clock at night and I did NOT want to bother with hair but I had to–said my hair. I cowashed and spent the least amount of time on my hair on even a cowash day than I ever had. After lazily rubbing a leave-in throughout my hair, I plaited my hair–with thoughts of my natural hair sorority sister who said that’s all she does with her hair–and hoped for the best in the morning. Only thing is, she’s been natural for nearly 10 years so she’s got this stuff down packed. 

I don’t.  :((

First, my hair didn’t dry all the way. Seems no matter how little product I use in my hair, it refuses to dry properly overnight. The only style I could come up with and not be late for work was:

  

I was still cute but, still, the time has come for a new challenge. No more hiding behind twist-outs and protective styles. I MUST learn how to style my hair in a short amount of time, with minimal prep the night before.

Stay tuned!

Naturally Yours,

L.A.

Natural Hair Styling Considerations

Sunday. My favorite day of the weekend. With my duties as a trustee at my church, the day can still be a bit busy but nothing like my Saturday’s that are inundated with cleaning I couldn’t get done during  the week, grocery shopping, meetings/events, and/or my son’s activities.This particular Sunday I stayed home from church, spending some quality time with my husband, lounging on the couch watching movies. But as the evening wound down,  I began to consider my hair. 

I wanted nothing more than to spritz it with some water, rub it down with a moisturizer, and then roll and tuck it into a quick style to get me ready for Monday morning. But I knew that wasn’t the way to go for me. Not only are my weekdays too busy to be messing around trying to fix my un-perfected roll and tucks while trying to have dinner for my family AT HOME and be prepared for the next morning so we can leave the house on time (that’s a job in and of itself), I have an all day sorority function this coming Saturday that I need my hair to be ready for.  

“You’re thinking about your hairstyle six whole days in advance?” You’re probably asking.

Absolutely. It’s the best way for me and most new or semi-new naturals to live a hair-frustrated free life. We [naturals] don’t have the luxury of waking up and flat ironing our hair then getting about our day. Let me tell you, there were many weekends when I was frustrated beyond measure having somewhere to go and not enough time to make my hair cute and rock it with confidence. I learned the hard way to plan ahead when I can. Even without set plans for the weekend ahead I usually try to create a low manipulation style for the work week that will easily transition into a style for being out and about.

This week I chose a combination of two strand twist and flat twist. 



The end result of this style will be, of course, a twist out with the flat twist remaining intact for a little added pizazz. I’m looking foward to it and I’m most enjoying the easy upkeep throughout the week.

What’s your go-to style to prepare for work and weekend?

Naturally Yours,

L.A.

A Stylist Was Born

Wrapped, ponytail, wrapped, ponytail. These were the only tricks I had in my hairstyling bag during  my pre-natural days. Most interestingly is that I had no desire to do anything else. Still, a world of possibilities opened up during the last couple of years that I was wearing locs. I could have let my shoulder length locs simply hang there like I did with my straightened hair but thanks to hours of scouring YouTube I discovered a wide range of styles that could be done with locs. Styles that I’d never considered for my hair before locs.

Why? I don’t really know but I’m glad for the change. In fact I was so glad about this emerging hair stylist within me that that it played a significant role in my decision to comb my locs and be creative with my unloc’d hair. 

Sure, I could have continued styling my locs just the same but the only thing was–for me–is that even though the styles can be the same–for loc’d and unloc’d hair–it is a slight difference. Locs, by their very nature, are thick. Therefore, the longer your locs are the bigger the style is going to be  and sometimes uncomfortable (i.e. Bun).

Nevertheless, I love styling my hair! I love it so much that I often have to remind myself that it’s okay to leave it alone. Especially when the demands of my writing life fall upon and the time to play with my hair simply isn’t there. That’s when two strand twist and flat twist styles come into play. Once these styles are in place you can pretty much get up and go with little upkeep before walking out the door.



Flat Twist Connecting into a Bun


Two strand Twist


While I love these styles and the get up and go that come along with them, you best believe that I’m always on  the lookout for the next style opportunity!

Naturally Yours,

L.A.

This One’s For You Boo

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My husband expressed a bit of annoyance this morning when I started to put my straightened natural hair into an updo.

“Really, Char? You just gotta put it up?” He whined. Lol. He’d be mad if he knew I was busting him out like this. But seriously, he doesn’t see the point of me straightening my hair if I’m not going to showcase the length.

For starters, that’s NOT why I straightened it–showcasing the lenghth. Secondly, I know too much about the damage that can occur to long hair from rubbing on clothes, scarves, etc. during these cold winter months. Third, and most importantly, I loathe seeing strands of hair on my clothes. Makes me think–BREAKAGE–even when I know it’s not. Still I prefer those ends to be tucked away, straightened or not.

Nevertheless, for love’s sake, I conceded. Just for the day, though, so he better not enjoy! And he has, too. He couldn’t stop taking sneak peeks at me on the drive to work :))

Have you made hair sacrifices for you boo? When? What?

Naturally Yours,

L.A.

Valentine’s Day–Natural ‘Do or No

For many, Valentine’s Day is a special occasion. Expected gift receivers or night on the towners will be getting all dolled up–from their heads to to their toes. Nail and hair shops will be on jam! But what about the natural girl–the DIY’er or the one who frequents a salon?

How will you be rocking your hair this weekend? Two strand twist, twist/braid out, some funky styled roll and tuck, puff? The styling options are actually pretty endless. However, I’ve noticed that when it comes to special occasions many naturals resort to the tried and true straightened hair style for what…I’m not sure.

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Where do you stand?

As for myself, I love being apart of this bold group of African American women who continue to dispel the myths that “our” hair has to be something that it’s not in order to be beautiful for any occasion. Normally I wouldn’t be doing anything particularly special for Valentine’s Day but this year the trustee ministry that I’m a member of has partnered with the nurses ministry to sponsor a dance/fashion show. At the end we’re being introduced and will be dressed up in fancy red dresses. For this special occasion, I’m really tempted to try–for the first time–finger coil twists. However, as I’ve learned some pretty hard lessons about attempting new hairstyles for special occasions, I won’t be doing that. But I’ll definitely be rocking some type of curls. I’ll post the final look!

Again, how will you be rocking your hair on V-day?

So in the end, I surprised myself with a compromise. I blow dried my hair, flat ironed it BUT I styled my hair in a elegant twist!

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It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye

Twists or curls…it’s so hard to say goodbye a hairstyle that was hours or days in the making!

Two days ago when I was undoing the flat twist I’d been wearing the previous week I felt a touch of sadness. Those flat twist accompanied by a cute beanie hat got me through the first week back to work after the holiday break. Boy, did I need it! Convenient, cute, and prepping for a weekend of social activities.

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Now here I am on the last day of the weekend and it’s time to say goodbye to the curls. They’ve got plenty of curl life left–at least 2 more days without retwisting–BUT tomorrow is Monday morning. Back to work. And I like my hair to style to be as simple as possible.

So bye bye curls…hello twists!