We ALL Have Bad Hair Days

“Do you know it’s 7am?” My husband spoke into my ear.

“Uh…yes…no…uhh…not really.” I stammered as I forced my eyes to open lifting my head from the pillow that added to my comfortable slumber. As indicated by the words I spoke, I had no idea it was time for me to be leaving the house for work, NOT just getting out of bed.

Hair problem #1
I didn’t cover my hair up before climbing into bed knowing good and well I was going to sleep.

Result
Dry hair, specifically dry ends.

Hair Problem #2
I didn’t prep my hair for how I was going to wear it to work (i.e. Two strand twisting or plaits). I planned to twist it but my back was hurting and I took a muscle relaxer for relief. Then I exercised for abt 20 minutes. After all that I was pooped!

Result
No time for a full length shower, carefully choosing my clothes AND styling my hair. I was forced to choose which necessary act I would dedicate more time to. I threw on some jeans and a sweater (after a really fast shower), then stared at the reflection of my dry, curl free (not in a good way) and wondered what I could do in 5 minutes or less.

Here’s what I came up with…

The all-too-familiar puff!

Honestly, I didn’t feel very professional on this day and I almost blamed it solely on the hairstyle. However, the truth is that it was everything from my head to toe–jeans and gym shoes–that created this feeling. If I wasn’t natural and instead wore my hair straightened today would’ve been a ponytail day or a drab wrap kind of day and I would have felt the same way.

Moral of the story–Don’t blame your “natural” hair. Everybody has bad hair days.

A Delayed Big Chop

Is she crazy? Is she really about to cut off ALL this hair?

Yes! Want to know why? Well the short of it is that all of that hair is no longer on my head. This picture was taken shortly after I combed my locs out, which is about two years ago now.

What happened, you’re probably wondering or not but I have been. My hair has been through a lot since being unloc’d, mainly unstraightened and without heat. However, improper care still occurred on my part.

Coming from four years of locs I simply wasn’t accustomed to having to do something to my hair as frequently as loose natural hair needs. Delicate detangling and most of all MOISTURE! I started off good but soon became overwhelmed and I started skimping on the care. Plus, during one of the times of lengthy straightening I got bored and decided on the bright idea to add color and cut layers into my hair.

Yikes! So began the slow death of the length of my hair when added to the fact that I didn’t moisturizer enough. Now I’m at a stage that I tried to avoid–the big chop– by coming my locs out in the first place. Oh well, it’s just hair right?

Right, but I’m still nervous at the same time that I’m excited. Excited for my hair to look better with these heat damaged ends hanging on. Excited for this next step on my natural hair journey–a journey to healthy, natural hair.

How important is length to you?

Naturally Yours,

L.A.
P.S. Wish me luck. I’ll post a video of the process.

A Time for Everything–Even Hair

There’s a time and a season for everything and that includes hair styles. For the last few months I’ve been rocking my straightened natural hair with the brief departure for some kinky twist extensions. I don’t know if it’s the lack of pizazz I felt after my recent visit to my hairdresser for a press & curl or if I’m just over it right now, but I’m ready for a different style.

Surprisingly, I’m leaning towards a bun, my least favorite protective style. Why don’t I like buns, you’re probably wondering? The answer: I’m not partial to hairstyles that require gel. Why? Because I don’t like restrictiveness. Once that bun is up there, the only way to get it down is wetting the hair.

Yet, I still want one. Guess I’m tired of my hair hanging, knowing that’s not good for my ends. Sooo, the next pic I post will be with my bun. Maybe.

Stay tuned… 😀

Flat Twist Out–My New Fav Twist Out

First day…

Second day after using the pineapple maintenance method…

Whatdaya think?

3 Ways I Styled My Straightened Natural Hair

If you don’t know by now, you’ll know soon enough that I can’t stand wearing my hair any particular way for too long. Doesn’t matter whether curly or straightened. Over a week ago, I straightened my hair and below are the different ways I styled it:

After watching a YouTube video by African Exports, I’m looking forward to trying Bantu knots on straightened hair. Maybe before the weeks out bad I have to wash my hair.

Do you like to change up your hair like me? Why or why not?

Straight Hair Update

Honestly, I don’t know how much longer I can do this. Admittedly, I haven’t been as obsessed with my hair since I visited my beautician 2 wks ago and I let her run a straightening comb through my kinky hair. It’s not much to maintaining this straight ‘do. Wrap it, tie a scarf around out, then comb it out in the morning. Since I’ve been out of practice with the flat irons, most days I don’t even think about bumping the ends and that’s been alright with me. It’s been as carefree as locs–if that were possible.

It’s almost time for a washing. Think I’m going to use the opportunity to do something different. Right now I’m leaning towards kinky twist, if I can arrange my busy schedule for an appointment.

LaCharmine (L.A.) Jefferson
Author, Writer, Blogger

Website: http://www.lajefferson.com

Blogs by me:

L.A.’s Literary Love Life@ http://lajefferson.blogspot.com

All Things Love @ http://all-things-love.blogspot.com

Naturally L.A. @ https://naturallyla.wordpress.com

Surviving Work @ http://survivingmydayjob.wordpress.com

Follow me on Twitter @lajefferson

Day 5 Un-Loc’d

“OMG! You really didn’t have to cut your off.” That’s the most common reaction of family, friends, and coworkers who are noticing that my locs are gone. So far everyone had heard that it could be done but no one has actually witnessed it.

As for me and this thick mass of hair on my head, I’m at a loss of what to do with it, if I may be honest. Thus far I’ve pulled it into a ponytail and rocked the two French braids, which I liked a lot the first day but I have tired of now.

Full disclosure: this morning I felt a twinge remorse over the ease and convenience of my locs but I quickly reminded myself that every style I did with locs, I can do with my loose natural. It’s just a matter of patience, which I’m a little short on.

Although I’d planned for this stage, I had no idea that my hair would be so friggin thick! It’s been a hassle just getting a comb straight through it, let alone trying to style it.

But I’m no quitter. After all, loose natural hair is what I asked for. Now I’ve got it!

P.S. I temporarily forgot the cardinal rule for rocking loose natural hair: PRODUCTS! PRODUCTS! PRODUCTS! To which I have nothing. Must rectify this ASAP. I’ll check back in a couple days with my progress.

LaCharmine (L.A.) Jefferson
Author, Writer, Blogger

Other Blogs by me:

L.A.’s Literary Love Life@ http://lajefferson.blogspot.com

All Things Love @ http://all-things-love.blogspot.com

Naturally L.A. @ https://naturallyla.wordpress.com

Surviving Work @ http://survivingmydayjob.wordpress.com

Follow me on Twitter @lajefferson

Too Lovely Not to Post

This was true too lovely not to post. Check out all these loc beauties. Like Naturaleeza said, locs are beautiful at all stages.

Loc Pics

Have a great day Locstars!!

Lovely & Loc’d,

L.A.

Who’s Tired of Your Locs?

It’s not me. At least not this time. It’s my boyfriend, or do I dare say fiancé. This morning, out of nowhere, he says, “I think it’s time for you to come out of your locs.”

Mind you, at the time I was in the mirror retightening my locs. Interestingly, although I’ve considered it off and on over the last few years, I immediately became defensive of my lovely locs.

“Why would you say that?” But I didn’t give him a chance to respond because I didn’t need to hear his reason. While he may have been the main cheerleader in my corner when I was transitioning into locs, giving me courage and confidence to do it, I long since stopped needing that kind of support from him or anyone else.

I know sometimes he misses my loose hair. Like I’ve said on this blog before, I do too. However, the difference between he and I is that he misses my straightened hair, something I don’t miss at all.

So I told him I have no plans of straightening my hair again. If and when I come out of my locs I’ll be engaging in a different transition: embracing my loose natural hair. Im already preparing for that day. As such, if he’s not ready for THAT, he bests be quiet and keep loving’ my locs like or do!

Weigh in, please? How would you have handled that statement from your man/woman?