Single Strand knots "Fairy Knots" Heat Damage, What Else Could Go Wrong??

Hi to all my Sistahs and Cousins out there, Hiya!!!  I wanted to come on here and talk to you ladies about a some issues I have been encountering during my hair journey.  And man has this been a long journey.  As you all may probably know my goal is waist length.  But I guess I can say like everything else in my life it has been very challenging to get that plane off the ground. It is hard to stay consistent when on certain days my hair feel like it calls for something new - but what is it really trying to tell me?  I have since corrected some of the things I have been doing and I have just accepted my fairy knots but try to eliminate them.  The heat damage I try to avoid as well.  I make sure I use the best heat protectant I can find.  I have some Chi spray and also I have some suave keratin heat protectant.  I have been wearing my hair straightened for the pass couple of weeks.  What I love about wearing my hair straight at this length is it's convenient.  Also my hair don't shed or break as much compared to when I wear it natural.  Also, A couple ago I added a supplement called diatomaceous earth to strengthen my hair and it has done an amazing job helping me to retain length.  Oh and another added bonus it grows my nails super fast as well. When I say this stop is amazing - believe me.  So where am I now in this journey to waist length?  Let just say I am on my way there and I going strong. 

   

Even if you have something that works and your closer to your goal.  I would like to recommend adding some of this to your diet and watch what it will do for your over all health.   Special thanks you all for stoping by and come again as the foreigner at the local corner store would say:). 

LEARNING AND LOVING HIS WOOLLY HAIR

Learning and Loving His Woolly Hair

Out of all my children- and I have six, one came into this world with what I called at the time the old man hair.  He had no hair at the top but had hair around his head like it had been rubbed off in the womb and went bald.  Then when it finally decided to grow in, it was so kinky like a dry woolly pad.  No matter what I put in it I could not keep it moist. Jonah is the only baby I know that got a hair cut at six months.  When he got older he told me he wanted hair like his older brother Brendin.  Brendin's hair is much different, when he was born his hair was so straight he looked like a little Indian.  Then of course it got curly and grew and grew.  Now it reaches his bottom. So I decided to give Jonah's hair shot at growing out. I didn't know how I was going to work with it.  I thought to my self should I lock it? should I braid it? I'm trying to think how I can describe his hair.... it's like his hair grows from a dry parched desert, his scalp seems like something is missing where he can not retain moisture on it and it can not nourish his hair from within.  I really need to look this up because it's not like he is dehydrated like he been working on the plantation in the sun all day.  I seriously think this is condition, no joke.  When I put oil or conditioner on it will either sit on top or less than thirty minutes later it is thirsty again. So I experimented with different products and styles.

Finally after some trail and error I found some styles and products that work.  One of our favorite styles that we like to do often is what he like to call  the "sonic hedgehog".  It looks like locs but it's not.  It's tightly twisted and sinced his hair is so tightly coiled it looks like locs but it will loc fast if I let it.  I have to comb it out once a week.  He is extremely tender headed so I don't comb it often.  It is a must that I comb it once a week or it will loc!  The products I use are a leave in conditioner, any will do, but what works for him is Biotera (from Ross) and I use avocado oil.  I like avocado oil A LOT, it is the only heavy oil that I have found that actually penetrates to nourish inside and protects outside and is very high in amino fatty acids which our hair loves.  Then I use the eco styler gel to lock in and hold the style.  It's pretty easy to do- no comb no fuss.  I have a video of the process I go through down below. I will repeat this process as neccessary during the week, if we have to go somewhere.  Usually I will just moisturize it and keep it moving,  but remember COMB IT OUT ONCE A WEEK!

 

IS IT THE END FOR SHEA MOISTURE?

GET OVER IT SISTAH!

Is it truly the end for Shea Moisture? I've never been the type to get caught up in too much hype- well for one I'm an introvert.  So, although I was a little upset because of the hype surrounding Shea Moisture's advertising campaign.  I gave it much thought after everything simmered down.  It's actually quite simple- all the "black" women that was butt hurt over the campaign, think of this.. how loyal were you to Shea Moisture to exclusively (ONLY) use their products and nothing else?  

I think that's a good question and very relevant.  I mean think about it, here you have a lynch mob of Sistahs ready to tear down a successful black company just because the company saw a lucrative opportunity in extending their product line to a different demographic.  Major brands have been doing that for years and guess what? Our sistah jumped right on that band wagon and bought EVERY LAST ONE of those products.... natural, we bought them.  We can be so emotional sometime without even thinking.  In proving their disloyalty we demonstrated OUR disloyalty ( I say "our" cause I speak as A PEOPLE most of the time).  We hardly ever support our black businesses.  Also think about it,  do you think they would've blatantly extended if all black people had a line of shea moisture in their house? With all the competition out there especially with newer black owned products being produced, I'm sure the board discussed a decline in their sales and a potential risk.  I have to be honest, I only bought shea moisture maybe twice throughout my whole natural journey, and that's four years.  I like to use the less pricier ones that work great but that's another post.  We'll stick to this topic for now.  Before you all get to calling me out of my name and how much I'm a coon or whatever, let me remind you of this. Think about it ladies, how many none black own products and I'm not even asking about throughout your house, just hair products a lone.  How many of your hair products are owned by white companies? 

So why cut down our people for wanting to make that "other" "schomoney".  It's sad how we do this to each other, with out even thinking how much they have even contributed to the black communities; or that they have a dream to offer their children to have a better life; and college education; and family to support; and even debt to pay back.  Please think people.  It's time to love one another support one another and build up one another.  It's hard enough being black to even make it to the top.  Let's support those that are already there, so they would WANT to reach down and lift a brother and sisters up.  Keep your heads up my people stay positive PLEASE, and stay focused.  We can make it easier on us if you come together and support each other.  BELIEVE THAT!

WHAT IS REALLY GOOD HAIR?

Many people will say that "black" women have been wanting to look like "white women" for years. Wearing silky straight weaves and bleaching our skin- not me. And hold up, never did we once try to make those women hate their own appearance to take theirs. That is the major difference, they have always done that to "black" women. To say that what is naturally given to us looks better on them is foolish and just sound stupid. To say how ugly we are with full lips and dark skin, but then go out and get the same exact things they talked about us for having.  All because they say it looks better on them.  HOW FOOLISH! Sisters I dont even know why we bother to try to emulate them, they are telling us themselves, you are beautiful sister and they want to be you!  Im just saying what they are saying but in a different way. Anyway.....You know these pass couple of years I have been really watching and digging the growth in the natural hair movement.

  

So much that I have become a part of it.  There is no denying that there is a movement going on. It bothers me, now that it has become a movement such as a wild fire that can not be stopped; the very look those people wanted us to deny is the very look those people are now trying to wear.

Also why, when THEY do it, they are glorified and praised for the very thing that is natural to us like it's something new.  But we got ostracized for our own image and for not trying to look like them?  I saw this video just a short while ago, actually a couple of videos where these caucasian women were setting their hair to end up with afros!  I could not believe it! I don't know if they did the same thing in the  seventies, when so called blacks wore afros back then, but I never thought I would see it in my time where they would want to try to wear an afro!

When they themselves say it is unacceptable in the work place.  I really don't think I should be surprised though. I mean they try to do everything else and get everything else we have.  But that is another topic, or is it?  After all this post is about them hating it on us and sewing it on or injecting it in them and then loving it.  Hey that's your prerogative, but it is a problem not only to me but to the whole so called black race of women that these people make to hate their bodies, their face, and their color just because they don't look like them.  But then you see these same people killing them selves getting all this plastic surgery, getting skin cancer from burning in the sun just to look like the very people who's image they despise. 

                                    

Do they really despise us?  I was always taught as a child that people who are jealous and envious of you are going do what ever it take to get what you have. They may even hate you for it because they can't have it.   They want what we have but with out the label of being a black person and minus the struggles.  I think it's very delusional to not understand where the black struggle is coming from.  We know for a fact that so called blacks were brought here to be nothing more than just slaves. When we became free they still didn't want to consider us human.  That is a strange fact knowing that the slave masters use to rape their so called "non-human" slaves, male and female.  I'm just trying to find some logic in their thinking?  It's like they only have beliefs and the attitude of "that's just the way it's gonna be".

I try not to post things like this in public.  I just hate that we have so many problems and the most frustrating part is, not being able to do anything about it.  We have to fight so hard to get the most simple things in life, we have to prove ourselves ten times worthy because we don't have the complexion for the connection.  We are a very strong people that come from the strong.  We have to bare in mind that we are the descendants of those that survived the transatlantic slave voyage, slavery, jim crow and everything else meant to destroy us.  We are still standing and multiplying in our afflictions.  If that don't tell these people that we were meant and always will be here; we are punished by God but so loved by him, then there can't be any understanding in them.  All I want to know and have a hard time understanding is why.. why did they bomb us in 1921 Tulsa Oklahoma, black Wall street? and why?? why did they do that to us in Natchez Mississippi, Devil's Punch bowel? I actually know the truth but want to hear them say it.  We know why they did those thing to us.  Look at the pictures above again and ask yourselves.  Why would a people so hell bent on destroy a people want to look just like them? Don't make any sense do it?  Well it's because you know the answer. The truth will come out more as we move forward. The descendants of the people that did those atrocities are around us today.  Can you identify them? No, only around the election you could.  Normally they will smile in your face and that's all I am going to say about that.  The reason I won't go further into that is because when a so called black even mentions slavery, we are called racist.  They like to use the word "racist" out of context a lot to their advantage which doesn't make a lick of sense.  Like I said before, delusional and narcissistic I might add.  Well, I didn't mean to turn this into a rant.  I just wanted to address some things that you all might know about but don't to want to talk about.  So I will leave it at that, I can go on and on and on and still it would only be an unprofitable rant, but with lots of meaningful good points which are priceless. Take care my friends be well and keep your heads up. 

The "GOOD HAIR" STRUGGLES

What do the term good hair mean?  In the black community it is used a lot to describe someone of African descent that don't have the stereo-typical kinky hair texture.  As I don't agree with using the term, I believe all hair is beautiful in it's own right.  I don't consider my hair manageable I wouldn't say not good, because it is naturally given to me therefore should be good. A person of African descent especially here in the western hemisphere have so many different textures of hair.  With out using the texture chart I would say I have the kinkiest to the softest curls and waves in my hair.  Now using the chart just to better describe and identify I would say 3c to 4b or even c.  It's so incredible..

  In order for me to wear my hair natural I have to grow my hair longer in the kinkier parts so when it shrink up it will be even.  I had to learn that.  Growing natural hair comes with trial and error.  No matter if you and a best friend are natural I can guarantee you both don't use the same hair products.  The same reason that many believe the hair chart is flawed.  I wouldn't say it's inaccurate but basic to say the lease.  We have a combination of textures like we have a combination of dna running through our body.  It's all about the up keep and maintenance of the hair that keeps it manageable for the most part; healthy and I say healthy hair always grows.  We are living in an age when our mentality is far from our ancestors. We are becoming more one with our selves and our creator;

therefore awake and in touch with our God given beauty.  We were forced for so long to conform to the ways of our oppressors and that society have made their image the standard of beauty.  Good job sisters, times are changing and no matter what texture of hair you have it is yours and it is beautiful because it is naturally given to you so it is good. Didn't God say everything he made is good.  Then that is the truth.

                                                  

5 Cute Messy Bun Style for Long and Short Hair

My daughters rarely let me do their hair.  They usually just where it down or in a pony.  In this video they let me do their hair.  How fun! I always liked to play in long hair when I was a little girl.  Mainly hair like theirs.  I don't know why we are so smitten by straight or wavy hair.  Women dote after it so much that they would actually spend top $$$ on the these textures.  We should love what we have of course but in the case of hair, let's just say it isn't big business for nothing.  So check out this video of how I hooked this two young ladies up with these different bun styles.  

This was fun and more to come.  I will be doing some temporary color on their.  I will video it for you all so you can see if it works or is a fail. 

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I LEFT YOU

SHOULD'VE NEVER LEFT YALL!

But life happens....I have been away for so long,  I got married, had more babies.  Moved to Hawaii and then moved to colorado.  I have been so busy with life and family that I haven't had the chance to tend to my internet family.  I hope you do forgive me and I vow to keep yall updated on my views on what's going on today.  And boy have things changed since I've lasted posted 4 years ago.  So as I mentioned before I had babies and with the babies came the weight.  A client of mine who's hair I was doing has lupus.  She mentioned to me how she learned about the plant called moringa and that it is good for purifying and detoxing and healing and also losing weight.  I then looked into the Moringa and decided to order it.  I have been taking it for 2 months now and all I can say is WOW! I mix my moringa in water as I demonstrate in the video.

I bought it in loose leaf form then put it my ninja to create the powder form.  In powder form is good for adding to water and smoothies.  I also add it to my stews, greens and beans in the leaf form like a herb.  I am sharing this because I want to strongly encourage everyone to start ingesting this daily because it will not only nourish you but it can also save lives.  Blessings

How to Perm Your Eyelashes?!

Have anyone heard of perming your eyelashes?  Well I guess it's one of the fads going on now.  I guess if it has been around for years, the secret is finally out.  First of all I want to address that I am sure there is a wrong and right way of doing this.  Although the idea all together seems pretty obsurd, many woman world wide are doing it.  There is a video of a lady perming her lashes with regular hair relaxer!  Yes the relaxer we get from the beauty supply store with lye in it and she shows the product and explains that it has lye in it in the video.  First of all ladies, your eyelashes falling out is the least of your worries.  I would be concerning myself with BLINDNESS!  She makes it look so simple and safe.  This is just stupid!  See for yourself.

Oprah's August 2013 Cover Photo

The other day while standing in the check out line at the grocery store, scanning the magazine rack as I always do I stumbled upon Oprah's O.  I was mesmerized almost hypnotized by her hair.  For those that dont know me I am a hair fanatic so to see this, to me was a treasure.  Unsure if it is all hers or not, but knowing Oprah really has a lot of hair one can only imagine all of it being hers.  Her overall appearance is beautiful.  Oprah you go girl!

Coarse Edges

Have you ever wondered why your edges won't lay down?  Or why your gray hair is so coarse?  Are you or were you an avid braid wearer?  Or did you always yank out gray hair on sight?  Well there is your problem.  On Dr. Oz, He explained how the growth of more gray hair is the least of your problems when yanking out grays.  Besides that's a myth, gray hair DOES NOT multiply cause you pull them out.  What it DOES cause is damage to the follicle and the appearance of coarse wild looking hair.  So take heed ladies next time those braids are tight on your edges and pulling them out.  If your hair does grow back it won't be that baby fine hair you use to have.  It will be coarse and untamed depending on your texture, you may even grow berries lol.

My Girls Hair is an Out of Control Mess

As I have mentioned in the past that my two little girls are mixed, British, Japanese, Native American, and Black to be exact. My girls hair is an out of control mess. Their hair grows super fast and it is super long. Sometimes I will go a couple of days without combing it, and every time it is a big mistake. Its gets matted up and it takes forever to comb out. It doesn't appear that way though, it just looks as though they have beachy wavy curly hair. I believe their hair to be 2b,c and 2c 3a texture. Their hair is beautiful  but  very high maintenance especially cause it's long. What I go through with their hair makes me think about the white women with biracial kids with really kinky hair. I truly feel for them, because they have no clue as to  what to do with it or how to take care of it. In my case my girls hair is truly mixed. They have curly,straight and wavy textures, so you can only imagine the trouble it gives me. But I discovered what worked and stuck with that. I understand and believe it letting your child be free without barrettes and tight ponytails. My girls lose barretts left and right so I stopped buying them.  It's sad to see a beautiful child walking around with dry, chewed up, broken off hair because to me represents ignorance. I only say that because with the wealth of information on the internet, free at that. There shouldn't really be any excuses. So ladies please if you have mixed baby have a look at these moisturizing tips for your babies.

• A Good moisture is essential, for example I like to use suave natural in the green bottle, shea and almond.  Although its a conditioner it's feels great when left in the hair. (wet the hair first)

• A good sealer such as castor oil, olive oil.  I like to use coconut oil but it's not good as a sealer.  It penetrates the shaft and give nutrients through out the hair.  Which makes it a great conditioner.  

Those simple steps are pretty much all it takes.  But experiment with different oils here is a list of oils to try: essential hair oil. 

Celebrities With Some Bad Weaves

Today I so happened to come across some photos that were quite disturbing because it made me realize that know matter how much money you have you really can't cover up the ugliness that lies just beneath the lie ha.

Like when I am looking at celebrities I expect, even though they are normal people like us.  I expect them to be flawless because after all, they are "special".  Let them tell it.  Any ole ways.....What kind money does a celebrity pay for jobs like these? 

Inquiring minds want to know!

A day We Will Never Forget

As I was mixing my cayenne pepper oil. Random thoughts were going through my head. The lost we have recently experienced in Conneticut weighs very heavy on my heart. I feel like I can't move. This feeling of empathy that so many are experiencing right now shows how we are all one. This can happen to anyone of us and we should care and treat each other with respect. How can someone take away a precious gift that God has given to us? How can someone look into the eyes of a child and pull the trigger? I know that person was sick cause clearly that is something that a normal person wouldn't do. As a God loving person in the name of Yeshua something inside me says that we must not judge that person. But how can we look pass the depravity of this act and still love him as our own brother. I feel like he couldn't be one of ours or he was deeply afflicted by demons that led him to his demise taking precious lives with him. Right now it's a sad sad time. I feel like a is paying a hefty price in the after world. He may have escaped prosecution in the physical world, but the punishment he will have to endure now is forever and much great. Rest in Peace Gods little children, he has called you home early.

Natural Remedy For Dark Armpits

I was thinking that it would be a good idea to share a remedy on how to get rid of unsightly dark under arms.  So first let's look at the causes.

• Tight fitted clothes
• Dead skin build up
• flabby saggy arms
• improper washing
• hair removal creams
• excessive use of deodorants
• bacterial infection
• dead skin buildup
• shaving

I didn't want to go into any details on the causes because regardless how they got that way, we just want to get rid of it right?  Here is something sweet, well sour and simple :)

Lemons!  After washing just rub a slice of lemon under your arms everyday until they are lightened up to your satisfaction. Viola!

Beautiful underarms naturally in no time, without the use of harsh chemical lighters, whiteners, or skin bleach.  They also make a good deodorant too.  They won't make you stop perspiring but they will kill nasty odor causing bacteria.

What's Good Hair Products

Shampoos and Conditioners

 Preferably sulfate free is the best way to go. Here is a my recommendations for high quality sulfate free shampoo and conditioners.

Thermal treatment for natural hair

For those with natural hair and like to wear it straightened, it's very important to protected your hair as much as possible.  I highly recommend these great products following a prepoo, which you can follow my method at my prepoo method post.  These products are great for protecting, smoothing and retaining hair growth, thus promoting hair growth.  

For the free and natural look

For those times when you just want to go natural whether it be in a pony tail or just free and natural. I highly recommend natural to moisturize and a sealer to lock in moisture.  I highly recommend these products.

with the natural oils, feel free to explore what your hair likes.  There are many different great natural oils to chose from that will truly benefit your hair.  I like natural products over all.  But I also go with what works.  But most of all I will always use a natural oil as a base, whether it in a prepoo, deep condition, or hot oil treatment.  I always nourish my hair by feeding it with what it needs, so in turn my hair will always give me back what I want. 

Bigen Hair Dye Horror!

Like so many, the thought of just adding water to Bigen hair dye gave me the impression that it just had to be "healthier" for my hair. I thought it was all natural and the best solution for covering my premature grays before thoroughly researching it. My hair was bra strap length at the time and I wanted shiny jet black hair. So what I did was the worst thing any body could ever do to their hair, I left the bijen on over night… tss tss tss. Gradually my hair started shedding and shedding. Meanwhile, since I had just had a baby, I thought it was the hormones. My hair was piling up in the sink like a hay stack. You could literally see through my hair to my scalp. I would be sitting there watching television and I could literally feel strands pop from my scalp. Slowly and slowly I was beginning to feel depressed, unsure what was happening. I looked up everything including thyroid conditions, but failed to look up this dye! Finally after being fed up and desperate, I looked up bijen dye and low and behold… I discovered my culprit. Bijen dye is loaded with heavy metals. Although the instruction say to just add water which is much more attractive then the ones you add peroxide to, this dye is much more harmful than the peroxide dye and bleaching combined.

I found many complaints after complaints on this dye. Also I have to say that this is not natural henna. I have talked about natural henna in my other posts. Natural henna comes purely from a plant. Bigen is advertised as being a henna dye but the hair industry has become very deceitful. Like when they sell human hair blend. Anytime it says premium quality human hair, it's a blend. Okay moving on. I go to this forum quite often they have a good thread on Bigen hair dye http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=582903.

I wish I could find the article from a few years where the girl's face had swollen up beyond recognition. Well if I find it I will post it here.

So anyway that was then for me, and it took a lot for me to recover from that episode physically and emotionally. Although my hair is no where near the length that it was, at least it's 100% more healthier, now all it has to do is grow. I like to always keep in mind that it's only hair and hair grows back.

Are African Head Wraps Sexy?

I know I've mentioned in a recent post about how transitioning hair styles are not appealing or attractive by far.  In case many of you don't know what transitioning hair styles are, the photos below is one of them.  Very common around here where I live.

I call these the bush bitch look.  Sorry that's mean, sorry I really am.

Here in America decades ago we invented straightening combs and relaxers.  So I feel offended by these unattractive slave hair style" singing negro spiritual "Waning in the Water" til your hair grows back. Taking us back 200 years.

 I was talking to this lady while our kids were in the gym. She is from West Africa. Senegal to be exact. It was funny cause down a few seats from me, there was a lady with this afro puff on top of her head.

Yes I had to snap a photo.

This lady from Senegal was explaining to me that women in Africa don't walk around like they do here in the states. They have a more elegant presentation in public. She said, "the ladies are lazy by the head here". I laughed because I could not agree more. We were talking about having pride and holding our heads up high in admiration. Not with a "I don't give a care" attitude, that many women display here. By showing respect for yourself and your appearance, lets others see that and respect us as well.  That also goes far beyond appearance, our attitudes too. And we wonder why other races don't mess with us hardly. Sometimes it has nothing to do with them being prejudice, but a lot about the way they see us conduct ourselves. What we need to also realize, is that little stupid things like this affect us as a whole  and it's sad cause we can't even stick together. That's a whole other topic. So for now in this post I need to stick with hair. The women with these head wraps in these photos, to me represent a queen and someone that demands respect from anyone she encounters. So it's not a question of being sexy, it's a matter of showing integrity and dignity for oneself enough to care about what others thinks.  The styles in the pictures below is a beautiful way to transition and you don't have a stress about your hair because you don't have to worry about anyone seeing what's underneath.  That's a secret between you and God. 

Natural Hair Does Not Have To Be Naptural Hair.

I know this post is going to offend some people, but I believe by my saying this I am doing some of the men a favor.  For the husband's mainly. The ones that decided to go natural without transitioning.  You know the one I'm talking about.  The one that decided to walk around all day with that mini fro and that band going around their hend to make a statement- to let everyone know they are going natural.  That is UGLY!  And to all the men particularly the husbands that have to stand by their wives while they do this.  I have to say sorry to the husbands because they have to say "that is my wife!". I see this around the city and when I am in the store and I see one of these heads walk by me a I see the look on husband's face as I look at her head.  I don't wanna laugh, I almost want to cry.  Because ladies!! Who said this was cute?  And forget saying, "I don't care what people think".  Well you should. Cause although we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, image says a lot about a person with out conversation.  So what, that it's merely based on assumption but that's just the way it is, and the way it will always be.  That's our nature.  To the women walking around looking like(excuse my language) bush bitches, you know there is a more civilized approach to going natural.  So stop being lazy and braid that stuff up if you are doing to big chop with 1 1/2 inch hair left on your head.  That's why it is a good idea to learn how to braid your own hair, if you don't have the funds to get your hair done.  It takes practice but you'll get better.  It's good if you have little girls.  You can practice on them so you should get good real fast.  I know people that know how to braid but don't like to and they don't need to.  This on the other hand...well, these pictures say it all.

I'll just say this is interesting.  I'm not a fan of it.

On the other hand it does take growth retention starting from that point to get to this.

As you can see it doesn't have anything to do with hair type.  You can have the length you desire, as long as you take care of your ends to retain what you grow.