My natural hair routine- wash day

 

Don't you hate when you watch a YouTube hair tutorial and they say "oh, I'm gonna show you this simple wash routine," and then they proceed to use 6 or 7 products during the video? Well, I'm probably going to do the same thing. Sorry, but as much as I've tried to simplify my routine and life, I have to listen to my hair cause she can be down right savage if I don't treat her right.

So, this is my fail proof hair care routine for my wash days.

 

1. Pre-poo and detangle. 

I choose to put a protein/ cholesterol treatment or hair mask on my hair prior to shampooing for two reasons- one my hair usually needs it since I only wash it once every 1-2 weeks and two, once I'm out the shower there is no going back in to rinse anything out. Ain't nobody got time for that.

So I spray my hair down with water and aloe Vera juice and distribute my treatment, which right now is Queen Helene's, an oldie but a goody. As I distribute I gently detangle with my fingers and twist up about 10-12 sections in my head and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.

2. Shampoo and condition.

Yes, I shampoo. My hair wants no parts of a co-wash (using conditioner as a wash) situation. While my hair is still twisted up, I rinse the treatment out and shampoo my hair still in sections. Why do I do that? Because the main point of shampooing is to cleanse the scalp and its easier for me to get to my scalp when hair is still parted. Current shampoos in rotation are Shea Moisture and Cream of Nature, while I mini-deep condition with Beautiful Textures.


3. Styling.
After my hair has been washed and conditioned, I put my current leave-in staple- Shea Moisture Black Jamaican Castor Oil Leave-in and seal it in with more Jamaican Black Castor Oil with Amla, which is good for the scalp. My styling technique does change from week to week, depending on my mood. I like to do different things to my hair but, my go-to style is a flat twist and curl. Using either Elasta QP's Design Foam or my homemade flaxseed gel (recipe below), I flat twist my hair upwards in the front and down in the back and secure it with gray perm rods. I sleep in them overnight, or wear a scarf while running errands during the day, and take down and fluff when they are dry.

 Flax Seed Gel Recipe
1. 2 cups boiling water in saucepan. Add 1/4 cup whole flaxseeds. Boil until white film is floating on top of pan, approximately 5-8 minutes.
2. Strain into mason jar or other heat proof container. Let cool for about 2 minutes.
3. Add 4-5 capsules of Vitamin E and 5-6 drops of essential oil of choice. I use lavendar and lemon grass. Stir with wooden spoon or stick. Store in refrigerator, should last 3-4 weeks.

I hope my routine wasn't too overwhelming for any newbies that may be reading this, but the important thing to remember with natural hair is to just do what your hair likes. Sometimes you know right away when a product doesn't work and sometimes products that used to work loose it's power factor once your hair gets used to it. Do you have any staple products your think I should try?
































Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty,
Rhonda

 

What is your problem with my natural hair?

I have been natural since 2005, and have been wearing my natural texture "full time" since 2010. And even though I have had much success and favor when it comes to my style and how my hair fits me, I did run into some backlash every now and then from people who did not understand why I would wear my hair like this. 

 

In the early stages of my natural hair journey, I offered no explanation because my mouth wasn't fully saved yet and I didn't have words that would not offend peoples ignorance. But, in recent years I have learned how to explain that I feel relaxing my hair is not necessary. Up until 2005, I only relaxed my front edges and the nape of my neck, better known as "the kitchen" twice a year. And up until 2010, I would wear what is now known as a twist out via flat twisting my hair between that hard press my beautician would lay. I also found, through getting my esthetician license, the purpose and effectiveness of product absorption thru the hair folicles and I know that relaxers are not something I want absorbed into my body. 

I also decided that I was done fighting with my hair and I was going to let it do what it do without me having to press and flat iron every two weeks. That's not to say that I just get up and go. True naturalistas know that this natural hair thing is not for the weak at heart. There is also a misconception that natural hair is unkept or dirty, but I promise you, any natural you know washes her hair on the regular and is trying every twist out and updo she sees. Our hands are in our heads manipulating our hair daily, unless in a protective style.

So when I hear about my natural hair sisters being harassed at school or on their jobs, it upsets me. For a black female to be told she can't wear her hair the way it naturally grows out of her head is ridiculous. I've heard of this hair hate during slavery, when they were forced to wear head scarves to discourage them from wearing braids from their culture, or to make them feel inferior because their hair was thick and wooly. But, this is 2017. Why does my hair still threaten you?

When little black girls are told that the way the hair grows out of their heads is wrong, or a distraction, I have an issue with that. When a grown black woman is told that her natural hair is not professional, I have an issue with that. When any textured hair individual is ridiculed by their own people of color, it's a problem and it shows how deeply rooted hair hate is. But, when today's melanin challenged celebrities wear these same hair styles, it's trendy. The issues I have with this are many.

Luckily, when it comes to the acceptance of natural hair, there are others who feel the same way and they have decided to take a stand on this ignorant, failed undercover attempt at hair hate. 

•Last year a natural hair ban was lifted at a Kentucky school after parents and students protested against it.

•A school in Florida had to re-write their dress code after parents became outraged by the ban on "dread like hair", which exposed a straight A, sixteen year old student with course hair.

•Parents were also outraged when two sisters were banned from prom and given detention daily for refusing to remove their braids at a Massachusetts high school. According to reports, they marched all black students down to the office daily for hair checks, where students were asked if the braids they wore were their real hair or extensions.  Which begs the question, if you can't tell, why does it matter. 

•That school was ordered by the Anti-Defemation League and the state's Attorney General to stop the harassment of these black and mixed race kids.

With it now being legal for employers to discriminate against dread loc'ed individuals, the fight for natural hair in the workplace is becoming more frequent. If you are having issues with rocking your natural at work, there is a resource for you.  This book written by LA attorney, Tracy Sanders titled, "Natural Hair in the Workplace: What Are Your Rights?" I haven't ordere it yet, but I plan on it as you can tell by my saved Amazon picture.

 

For decades society has constantly tried to tell us that our natural hair wasn't pretty. That we needed to cover it up, wear a wig, weave it up, relax it, press it, anything but wear it the way it grows out of our heads. When women started wearing fros in the 60's, they were seen as rebels and trouble makers. That's why several years ago when the natural hair community started growing at expenetal rates, the movement couldn't be stopped. Natural women across the globe started telling their friends, family, boyfriends, bosses and society to go have a stadium full of seats if they had something to say about their hair. 

Now don't get it twisted, I believe in the change up and I love me a cute wig or Yonce' weave every now and then. But, when I just want to be me in all my natural, happy I'm nappy glory, I don't want to be ridiculed for loving my hair the way that it grows. Be free queen. 

That's my two cents. What's yours?

Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty,

Rhonda 

Skin and Hair Care Resolutions

We are in the 2nd week of a  new year and in true fashion I am taking this time to reflect and determine the things I want to do better in this upcoming year. I want to be better mind, body and soul and since I work daily on my soul and I focused on mind/life goals via my Passion Planner in my last post, I figure it's time to focus on body today.

I'm not saying my body is perfect, but I really don't focus on it like I used to. My curves are in all the right places and I physically feel good 80% of the time, but stress and bad habits have had my skin and hair suffering lately. With that being said, here are a few skin and hair care rules I plan to live by this year. 

I will wash my makeup off every night. Why is this so hard to do? Cause your girl be tired, but I will try my best.

I will drink water everyday. I don't think an explanation is necessary with this, it's just a healthy thing to do.

I will do more mole checks. Dark skin can get skin cancer too, so doing monthly checks on those new moles that keep popping up will pay off in the long run.

I will exfoliate twice a week. Nothing keeps that skin looking baby fresh like scrubbing that tough layer of rough skin off.

I will not become a product junkie. I repeat, I will not become a product junkie. Because of the way my bank account is set up, this shouldn't be a problem, but I still have to remind myself.

I will stress less. Easier said than done.

I will not pop my pimples. Again, easier said than done. Popping them makes them worse before they get better but it is so satisfying when you do. #struggles

I will always keep my eyebrows on fleek. Yaaasss!

I will continue knowing that what works for some may not work for me. And that's okay. All skin and hair was not created equal.

I will wash my hair more often. Once or twice every two weeks is my usual schedule. Anything past that and it's a mess to deal with.

Water will be my main moisturizer. Water is my friend.

I will wrap/ cover my hair nightly. Even if I do look like Aunt Jamima, I have to protect my hair at night. And for added protection, a satin pillowcase will help too.

I will learn the true meaning of protective styling. Braiding my hair up and not cleansing or moisturizing my scalp defeats the purpose.

I will stop being lazy. See above.

And most of all, I will love the skin I'm in and rock whatever texture grows out my head.

Those are my skin and hair care resolutions. What are yours?

Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty,
Rhonda

My Life in Photos- June 2015

1. Talk about real life goals, this would be a true blessing. All shopping decisions I make are based on my budget, so not having to check the price tag or my account would definitely put me at success status. This quote is going on my vision board ASAP!

2. So somebody at Matel came up with the bright idea to put false lashes on Barbie. I don't know whether to say, "aww, they're cute" or "bye, Felicia!" While I love wearing lashes myself, that's not the image I want to put out to my daughter that she has to wear falsies to be beautiful. I already have to fuss at her about staying out of my makeup, I don't need to have to hide the lash glue, too.

3. I decided to get my Janell Monae on and try out this protective hair style. It was super easy, only took about 20 minutes to style and only $15 in braiding hair. All the questions and compliments about my hair skills have also made me rethink my future in styling natural hair. To be continued.

4. It was my daughter's birthday and as much as I tried to make her celebration a small, nothing special, with just ice cream and cake, the more the grocery and guest list grew. It also didn't help that it rained ALL day, but it was a good turn out and a great non-party if I do say so myself.

That was my week in review, how was yours?

Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty, 

Rhonda