Sunday, November 14, 2010

Me and my hair: My hair story

One thing that people are always complimenting me on is my hair. I like to change my hairstyle up, alot. And my friends always commend me on not being afraid to try new things. When I told everybody I was going to beauty school, they just knew it was to become a hairdresser. Although playing in my hair is one of my loves, I wouldn't dare take the same risks that I do with my hair in someone elses. I instead went into skin care for now, but there may be a future in natural hair care for me. So, I thought it would be fun to tell my hair story through some cute and hilarious pics.

I was pretty much bald headed as a child. My mama always jokes that she doesn't know how she got a bow to stay in my head. She said it must have been some Velcro or something. But, eventually, it grew.



Me and my Daddy. I'm about 2. 80's baby all day.

Me and my brother. I'm about 6 or 7.

ROFL. 6th grade.

Fast forward to high school and I was always in some form of braids. From casamas to latch hook, I had it down pack. It would take me about a day to wash and braid my hair, but I enjoyed the finished look. I was getting a relaxer at this time from my aunt who did my hair when I wasn't wearing braids. Even back then, I was trying different things. My mama wouldn't let me color or cut my hair until I turned 16, so I had to be creative.


Latch hook braids, 11th grade- '98.




My very first weave. Homecoming 11th grade.
Hubby is going to kill me :)



Don't hate on the 3 french rolls, side swept bangs and hair down in the back. You know you love it.
Homecoming 12th grade.





















My second year of college brought about a change in me. I had always seen myself as somewhat of a tomboy, but that year I got rid of the latchhook braids, the huge men sweaters and I started carrying a purse (gasp) and decided that it was time to get in touch with my feminine side but at the same time, still be myself. My first straw set was so on point. I remember the reaction from everybody the first time they saw it. I did some flat twists in the front and the back was the cutest curls I ever seen. This was in 2001 and I had seen it in a hair magazine and just tried it on a whim. At this time I was doing my hair full time because of my work, school and choir schedule I couldn't make it to see my aunt and couldn't afford any other hairdresser. The straw set became my signature style for a minute and I rocked it to the fullest.

I was doing my own relaxers and color and the results were just what I wanted for a while. Then, low and behold I got the "crunch". The chemical burn crunch that made my hair feel, look and smell like a burnt piece of leather. It was awful. My hair would not hold a curl and literally just laid their. I was pretty much color treating and relaxing my hair too close together and I was covering the whole head with color instead of doing touch ups. Big whoops! But, you live and you learn.

Straw set. 2004. Can't tell but I have highlights.

Probably a couple weeks after above pic. You can see the highlights better.
The "crunch" came soon after.
Two years after graduation college, I found myself married and with a newborn. I had stopped coloring and up until my pregnancy had only gotten relaxers twice a year. I went natural pretty much on accident. I didn't have time to get my hair done and I just didn't want to relax my hair. Plus, I had found a hairdresser who could press my hair so straight everybody thought it was a relaxer (thanks Crystal). And I had found a new love: half wigs. When I didn't feel like getting my hair done, I would flat iron the front and put a wig on it. And eventually, I taught myself, how to make wigs out of stocking caps. I learned how to do a closure via YouTube.

Ponytail with some flat twists/rolls in the front.
Summer on 2004, I was prego.

At the baby shower of course. I did a flexi rod set.


After having my son in 2005, I kept my hair chin length for awhile.
I loved my bob with wings.

This was Sept. 2009. This was the longest I let it grow.

But, little did I know that I was still causing a lot of heat damage by flat ironing almost everyday. It wasn't until I was in the esthetician program that I started leaving the flat irons alone too. I did a lot of protective styles like two strand twists and a whole lot of wigs and sew-in's.

Wanted some color, so I did a full weave.
Valentines Day 2010. 


This is one of my half wigs. This was summer 2009.



From October 2009 until October 2010, I went without putting any direct heat to my head. No blow drying and no flat irons. It wasn't until that October that I tried out the InStyler flat irons. But, slick ends and thick roots is not a good look so I put it away real quick.

So my family was used to me wearing natural hairstyles, but when I basically rebuked any type of heat source, I think they got a little nervous. I remember rocking my curly fro one time and my grandma said, "Ohh, the way you had your hair last time was so pretty." Last time. What she mean "last time?" Mind you, the style she was referring to was a wig, but I didn't trip.



Twist Out. April 2010. Original pic on my business cards.

Twist Out. Mothers Day 2011


Flexi Rod Set. Our 5th Anniversary, 2010

Twist and curl. Summer of 2011.



But, in April of this year my husband said he wanted to see my real hair worn straight, so I blow dried it and flat ironed it, and it looked cute, but by the next day, it was all puff. So, I asked my Avon rep, Angela to flat iron it for me and let me tell you, she is real business with her tools. Even though she said I had the thickest head of hair she had seen and my hair was very resistant, it was sooo cute. It had bounce and laid just right. I hate that I didn't get a picture of it, but it probably would have had hubby's hand in it somewhere.

After flat iron.

During flat iron
And that brings me to today. Currently, I'm rocking a straw set, but since the cold weather is a'coming, I will be doing more protective styles. My friend bought this really cute short wig and I'm thinking about jocking. I've always wanted one, but never found one that didn't make me either look like somebody grandma or like Salt-N-Peppa. But, the choices are endless so I'm just gonna have fun with it.

So, let me tell you about my current regimen. I wash and deep condition every 7-10 days. I have 4ish hair. I only say that because I used to be a 4b/c, but after my first (and possible my last) henna experience, my curl has definitely changed. The jury is still out on whether I want to continue with it or not. And I do everything from twist outs, straw sets, puffs, rod sets, flat twists, mini twists, and Senegalese twists. Styles that I hope to conquer are wash and go's (only had one successful one), three strand twists and a Curlformers set that lasts more than a day.


My one day wash-n-go. Week end before last.
 

The infamous straw set. Day 1 on last Monday.
This style can last over a week. Love when it gets all big.
 













Senegalese twists. August 2011.

 

And here are the products that I keep in heavy rotation. Please believe that there are more, I am a product junkie, but these are the ones I reach for most often.

Conditioners:
Styling products:
Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding and Curly Butter Creme
The Original Moroccanoil Oil Treatment
Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter and Tui Moisturizing Hair Oil
Organic Coconut Oil
Raw Shea Butter mixed with Jojoba and Grapeseed Oil

Styling tools:
Hair Pins are a must
I use old stockings to form my puffs
Curlformers (I love the curls I get, but I'm still only getting results that last a day or two)
Hair inspirations:
Web sites like naturallycurly.com, curlynikki.com, youtube videos,
Books, Thank God I'm Natural
Magazines, Hype Hair, Sophisticates Black Hairstyles and Essence.
Women and groups around me- Naturally Flyy Detroit






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