I've Been Gone for a Minute

So, I've been MIA for awhile, but I will try to do better! :) This summer, well, since July, I was wearing a sew-in. Since the beginning for November, I have been weave-free and wearing my natural tresses. I've totally missed wearing my hair and have had fun using new products and seeing what works on my hair. When I initially took out my sew-in, I made a little concoction with unrefined natural shea butter, coconut oil, and Vitamin E oil. I even mixed them products together with my hand mixer! In addition, I used the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner, and used Miss Jessie's Stretch Silkening Cream to do two strand twists. My hair came out GORGEOUS! It was shiny and looked thick and healthy! And I got tons of compliments!

Just last night, I re-did my hair (my style was looking a little old), so did a quick wash, conditioned my hair, and did another two strand twist. I'm happy to say that this time didn't take me as long as it did the last time I did my hair. I'm excited to see the results. (I may even share some pics with you all!)

Over the past few months, I've been introduced to some new products that I absolutely love, so on my next post, I'll share what those products are and how I used them when styling my hair. Remember, stay nappturally beautiful!

I Need...

Hello, napptural divas (and the men who love us)!!! It's been eons since I've written (here), but I've been a busy, busy bee! (I know, no excuses!!). My hair has grown exponentially (YAY!), but I still have issues with it being dry. I was about to type "coarse", but I realized I'll probably always have coarse hair (it's just the texture, no soft and wavy here), but dry can be fixed. My main natural hair need is a really good leave-in conditioner. I've heard many people mention Hair Milk by Carol's Daughter, Shea Butter Leave-In by Cantu, Knot Today by Kinky Curly, and Soothing Hair Milk by Garnier Fructis. So, I've tried the Hair Milk (not a big fan) and the Soothing Hair Milk (I actually like it). I've very anxious to try the other two products to see if they work on my hair. But I'm also anxious to hear any suggestions.

Another problem I have is wanting to buy a whole bunch of stuff when I go to the hair store or Target. I don't necessarily NEED anything (except the leave-in conditioner) but I look at shampoo, conditioner, curly puddings, and the like. Thankfully, I don't need an intervention, but I need someone to tell me it's ok to be happy with what I have.

Lastly, I need some new styles. This may sound crazy, but my hair has gotten too long for a braid out. Last week I braided my hair (after not having done so for about a year), and my hair was sticking straight up!!! Not a cute look. I realize that twist outs are much better for me. My co-workers jokingly called me "Sunburst" last week. As I stated here before, I have 4B type hair. So even though I found a girl whose hair is great, I don't think her style is going to work for me...but I may be wrong. I need to find that YouTube video again...

So I don't seem like the needy girlfriend, I want you guys to tell me what you need from me! Do you need tips, suggestions, advice, a shoulder to cry on, anything??? I'll share the little bit of knowledge I have!! Since it's been a while since some of you have seen me, I'm sharing a few photos, one even taken today after a fresh twist-out. (Oh, on my hair last night, I used the Garnier Fructis Soothing Hair Milk, Jamaican Mango and Lime Locking Creme Wax, and Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue, which I'm actually growing to love.) I used the milk and wax all over (too avoid adding to much product to my hair) and added the meringue to individual sections of my hair before twisting it. Until next time, stay nappturally beautiful!!!


Me in December 2010


Me on NYE 2010 (Don't worry, it didn't last! :))


Me in Feb 2010


Me last month at my PT job


Me today!

I've Found It!

Happy Tuesday, napptural divas! I have FINALLY found some products that I love to give me the look I like. As I've mentioned before, I love just about anything from Miss Jessie, and now I've paired her Curly Pudding with the Curling Custard from Kinky Curly. I do have to say that using the Curling Custard from Kinky Curly by itself did not turn my hair into what I wanted it to be. After some research, I discovered I was a 4B (find your hair type here). But I would like my hair to be curly, like it is right after I've washed it. I was hoping using the Curly Custard would help achieve that. Yeah, I was wrong. When my hair dried, it was a nice, tight, TWA aka teeny weeny afro...I hate those. The next time I washed my hair I put on the leave-in conditioner, the Curly Custard all over, then I parted my hair and put it in two strand twists. For each section, I put a little of the Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding on. I let my hair dry as I slept. When I woke up the next morning, I had nice ringlets that I LOVED! I know what works on my hair to achieve a certain look. I will probably try cornrowing my hair again, but in the meantime I like twisting it because it leaves my hair curly and (most importantly) it's less time consuming.

I'm still looking for a leave-in conditioner to use. I do have the Black Vanilla Raspberry conditioner from Carol's Daughter. And I've found Fruits and Berries from Oyin Handmade. I actually need to start using more of their products. What items do you use? Do you have a leave-in conditioner or any other product to suggest using? I can't wait to see your suggestions. Continue to stay nappturally beautiful!

P.S. Don't worry; I'll post pictures soon! :)

Isn't She Lovely: Part I

Well, it's finally here-the beginning of the "Isn't She Lovely" series. As mentioned in an earlier post, I am beginning to highlight some ladies whom I think have a great natural hair story and have some tips that we can learn from. First up, is Miss Tamieka.

How long have you been natural/when was the last time you received a relaxer/texturizer? My last perm was June of 2007 (I think)
Why did you decide to go natural? My hair has never done well with a perm., and after coming to DC and seeing so many women embracing their natural texture, not perming anymore was just a natural step. After a few months after my last perm, I realized it had been a long time since I had a perm and I didn’t see any point in getting one.
How did you transition to natural hair? I gradually cut my perm out while transitioning with braids.
What is your favorite way to style your hair? Braidouts. My hair shrinks up a lot so if I want my hair to look like it has any length at all I have to either to twist outs or braidout. I find that braidouts give me more definition.
What is your favorite product to use on your hair? I love Butter-N-Bars.com’s Conditioning Hair Masque. It loosens the curl patter a little, long enough to comb through it easily and do great braidouts. Plus it leaves my hair super soft. In my opinion no type 4 should be without it.
What is your worst natural hair memory/worst hair disaster? Too many list. But the most recent was when I went to a beauty school for a roller set. It was the worse thing ever. I should have gotten up from the chair as soon as she tried to put a comb through my dry hair. Yikes!
Do you think you’ll be natural the rest of your life? Yes. I cannot imagine ever going back to the creamy crack. However if I ever left DC, depending on the location, I recognize there might be a chance I’d have to wear my hair straight. (I know I never have to , but you get what I’m saying).
Have you read any books or blogs that have aided you in your natural hair journey? Again, too many to list. I love curlynikki.com, textureplayground.com, newlynatural.com, motowngirl.com, and Nappturality.com
Has being natural done anything for your self-esteem? It has reminded me like India says, “I am not my hair”.I don’t have to hide behind hair, I have learned to love my face whether my hair is braided, twisted or in a TWA. I feel most true to myself when my hair is in its natural state.
What are some comments you have received from family/friends/strangers regarding your natural hair, positive or negative? Well almost all of my friends are natural (all but maybe 2 or 3) or transitioning, so I get lot of positive feedback from them. My mom was nervous at first but she loves it. My dad, surprisingly enough loved it from the start. (he’s old school so I was expecting him to object). The only person who is not ok with my decision to wear my hair natural is my boyfriend’s mother, though I’m not sure why she cares *shrugs*

Thanks to Tamieka for agreeing to be featured on The Natural Girl Diaries. I really appreciate it! If you have any questions, comments, or want to share based on Tameika's comments, feel free! Until next time, stay nappturally beautiful!

Summer Care for your Hair

As we are officially 19 days from the first day of summer, I feel it is my duty to share with you ladies (and gentlemen) some tips to keep your locs in tip-top shape for the summer to make sure your hair is not dull and damaged by the time Fall rolls around. (And for those of you still a part of the dark side (relaxers) I'm sure these will help you, too!

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize: It's important to keep hair moisturized 24/7/365, so summertime is even more important. With sun exposure being inevitable, it's super important to ensure that our hair maintains its moisture. Sun can dry out hair (and skin), so it's so very important to find a daily moisturizer to keep our hair soft and shiny without being greasy. Some items to try are Carol's Daughter Hair Milk, Frederick Benjamin Daily Hydrator, or any natural product with jojoba, avocado, or olive oil.

2. Wear or use a satin hair cap/pillowcase: Cotton pillowcases have a tendency to break hair and cause split ends, so to protect your tresses sleep wearing a satin scarf (we should all be used to it as our mothers wrapped our hair as little girls) or sleep with a satin pillowcase. Satin is a soft fabric that protects hair from breakage.

3. Use an umbrella when going out: Yes, it may sound crazy if it's not raining, but using an umbrella at an outdoor festival, the beach, or bbq will protect your tresses from sun damage. Yes, we all love being outside on a gorgeous, but you don't want to sacrifice your beautiful tresses, do you?!?!

4. For my swimmers, condition your hair pre-pool and wear a swim cap: Another not so cute girl move, but wearing a swim cap will protect hair from chlorine damage...and any other unnatural thing that may be in pool water! Also, pre-conditioning your hair will protect the hair shaft from chlorine damage.

5. Get some fake hair: Yes, I said it, and I'll say it again...GET SOME FAKE HAIR! Yes, I'm a proponent of some weave (as we all know from a previous post), and there is nothing wrong with that. I believe in protecting my hair by any means necessary. So if I have to add somebody else's hair to my hair, I'm willing to make that sacrifice! As long as my hair is braided and the weave is done right, I shouldn't have any problems with keeping my tresses healthy and bringing letting them breathe in the fall.

I hope these tips help. I'm sure there are plenty more, so if I've missed a few, feel free to add some. Until next time, stay nappturally beautiful.

Frederick Benjamin/Michael Craig Photoshoot

At the beginning of this month, I had a behind-the-scenes invite to view the Frederick Benjamin/Michael Craig photoshoot in DC. For those of you that don't know, Frederick Benjamin is a new natural hair and scalp treatment line created by Michael James. Initially started for multicultural men, this product has customers of all races and both genders. Free of harmful alcohols, synthetic agents, and mineral oils, the Frederick Benjamin products are full of natural oils to ensure hair is at its optimal peak and maintains moisture and shine without being greasy. Affordably priced, Frederick Benjamin ) has a full line of products to ensure complete hair care.



Now, for me, Michael Craig Men's Grooming is a first. This is the first ever full service barbershop that I have visited, not that I visit a lot of barbershops! This business, exclusively for men, offers shampoos, haircuts, shaves, manicures, pedicures, and other services for its clients. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of DC, this barbershop provides customers with complimentary wi-fi, flat screen televisions to watch sports, and allows men to bond while they are recieving the latest in men's grooming; Michael Craig even has the Resource and Educational Center where professionals can learn the latest techniques in men's grooming.
While spending a few hours at the shoot, my girl Original Najeema and I were able to witness all of the work that went into making the models get camera ready and view the instructional video that was made. We were able to speak with Mr. James and his cousin Alex Sutton III, who works in business development for the line, about their hopes for where these photos and videos will be distributed. A relationship was also established with Mr. Craig, who has had his barbershop open for approximately 3 years. The shoot also afforded us the opportunity to meet make-up artists, an image consultant, and a few of the models.
This was an eventful occasion, and I am glad that I was able to be a part. So, for you guys, and ladies, I suggest you give Frederick Benjamin a try. You won't be disappointed with the results. And to you gentlemen that live in the DMV, or will be visiting the area, I encourage you to visit Michael Craig Men's Grooming. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the results.
Until next time, stay nappturally beautiful...and handsome!

I Admit It- I Made a Mistake

Ok, I'm a big girl and can admit when I made a mistake. I should not have altered my natural-I should not have pressed my hair-I should not have let the Dominicans blow my hair out (no matter how pretty it looked!). What I thought would be a great alternative for my hair and a breather for me (wearing natural my sew-in)turned into a disaster...or made a bad situation worse. I took out my sew-in, used some great products (which I will tell you all about later), but when my hair dried and I was ready to wear it out I realized it is not in wear out condition. Meaning that I have so much damage to it that I had to cut it (sigh)... Yes, I have toyed around with this idea before, and I even shared it with you guys. But I didn't really THINK that I would have to cut it. To be honest with you, I'm not sure what I can contribute my hair damage to-it could be the heat I had put on it through pressing, blow-drying, and flat ironing, it could be I didn't condition it and take care of it the way I should have, the sew-in made it worse, or it be a combination of all of the above. All I know is after I took out my sew-in (which I received many compliments on), I was shocked and amazed at what I saw in the mirror and felt with my hands. My hair was broken off in some places, dry in other places, and just all around looked like a hot mess. Not to talk badly about children, but you all have seen the little girl whose mama you want to slap because she obviously has NOT been taking care of her child's hair; it's different lengths, straight in some places, short in others, and looks like no one cares about the health of her hair. Yes, I am that little girl (at 20 something), and I want to kick my own behind. I truly believe that if I had just kept wearing my natural curly 'fro last summer and using my Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding/Baby Buttercreme, Jamaican Lime Loc and Twist creme, and Carol's Daughter Pomade I would not be in this situation right now.
So, what can I do to get my hair back on the right track? Well, I've already taken one step. I have cut my hair so that it is even (for the most part). Yes, I do plan on going to a salon so a stylist can repair my hair, but to be honest I am really embarassed by the state of my tresses (or lack thereof). So, this summer I will definitely be on "Mission Impossible: The Napptural Girl Grows out her Tresses". If any of you have ANY suggestions on maintaining a short crop and helping to grow hair, I am ALL ears. Also, please feel free to share your hair disasters and how you fixed it. In the meantime, stay nappturally beautiful

Keratin Hair Treatments

This past weekend, a friend and I were having a discussion on what to do with our hair for the summer (yes, she read my previous post!). She had mentioned that she was interested in getting a Keratin Hair Treatment, but didn't know that much about it. So, being the nice person I am, I decided to do some research and blog about it. Now, this post in no way is my endorsement for Keratin treatments, nor is it my saying don't get the Keratin treatment. This is strictly for informational purposes only! I will outline exactly what a Keratin treatment is, how long it lasts, the average costs, and any side effects.

First, Keratin is a natural protein found in nails, skin, and hair. A keratin treatment is a non-chemical (or low chemical depending on whose site you go to) treament that keeps hair straight up to 4 months. Keratin treatments claim to remove frizz and make hair straight, sleek, shiny, and more manageable. To seal in the keratin, hair can be flat-ironed for a total of 5 times with a 450 degree flat iron. The total process can take up to 5 hours, depending on the length and thickness of the hair, and no water can touch the hair for the first 72 hours after a treatment is done. Clients can also not wear bobby pins, hair ties/bows, nor can they tuck hair behind their ears. The average price is $300. Clients must also purchase a special shampoo and conditioner to use on their hair to maintain the treatment for as long as possible. As time goes on, the treatment will leave the hair and the hair will return to its normal state until the next treatment.

Some of the side effects of keratin treatments are excessive hair loss, deterioration of hair texture, harsh smells (while the product is being applied), the client have a burning sensation, and the treatment does contain formaldehyde.

So, ladies, I will say proceed with caution, as you would with any product or treatment you would do to your hair, whether it's a press, blow-out, etc. I hope this helped to inform those of you who wanted more information about Keratin treatments. If any of you have had a keratin treatment or know someone who has, please feel free to share your story. As always, stay nappturally beautiful!

Tips to Keep Your Blowout Straight

So far so good on this workout thing. To be honest, today is really my first day working out this week! But I felt alive, awake, and alert! Working out in the morning is going to have to become a regular thing! As I had a few minutes today to read some articles, I came across this article on Essence.com (click on the title to read the article) on how to maintain your straight locks after a blowout. Now, I know the celebrities they picture are supposed to look like they just stepped out of a salon (which they probably did) and probably don't have natural hair, the tips are worth sharing. So as you look at pics of Alicia Keys, Zoe Saldana, and Veronica Webb, just to name a few, pay attention to the tips Essence provides. Now, I'm not advocating these tips as working, but I can say I (try to) brush my hair every night at least 100 times. (Brushing and combing hair daily is listed as one of the tips). So you may ask what I did with my hair today? I wrapped it as I worked out, blew it dry (it was a little damp after my workout), then flat ironed it. Now, I know in my previous post I mentioned not to put too much heat on your hair. I kept the temperature in the low 300's; I think the setting was on 302 or 311. My hair is still shiny and straight. But after getting it done over a week ago I'm very excited about my upcoming appointment this weekend!

A Healthy You Equals Healthy Hair

So after much speculation, saying "I'm gonna do this", and making New Year's Resolutions, I have FINALLY decided to get back in the gym and to start eating better! Two of my co-workers and I decided that beginning this coming Monday we will do a weekly weigh-in for the next three months. Now I know some of you may be wondering "What does this have to do with hair?" Well, I'll tell you! Everything in and on our body is connected to what we put in it, or what we eat. Now, for the most part, I have begun eating more healthy within the past few weeks, but I still love some occasional Party Cake Ice Cream or Sour Cream and Onion Lays. For Lent, I gave up Pork and sodas. (I'm considering giving these up on a permanent basis after Lent). We did decide that we would each give up one thing that we may indulge in once a week. So for me that would be my ice cream *sigh*. It's going to be hard, but I'm determined to make it work. So, a new me equals a new head of hair! Well, I can say that when I got my hair done this past Monday my stylist commented that my hair is growing, which is something every red-blooded black woman loves to hear! Even today, my hair is shiny and is very healthy. I have been drinking more water and I believe that my lack of sodas is aiding in the health of my hair. Since I have seen positive results, I have decided to take this one step further. I hope to see even more results once I begin working out on a regular basis. So, to assist those that may be wondering what to eat to ensure you have a healthy head of hair, here are my own little tidbits based on things I've read. 1. Definitely drink PLENTY of water. H2O gives you clearer skin and aids in healthy hair and nail growth. 2. Get plenty of exercise 3. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. 4. Put as little heat as possible on your hair. Heat has the potential to break hair off and cause split ends. I think these tips will help any of us, whether we have natural or relaxed locs, or even if we're male or female. A healthy you equates to healthy hair!

The Process

Hey, people! Since I want to share my entire natural haircare journey with you, this post will focus on how I went natural. I do have almost 4 years of stories to share so you're in for a ride! But I promise to break them up and still keep things interesting!

So, after telling my stylist that I wanted to go natural I had to decide how I wanted to go natural. Did I want to grow out my relaxer or chop off all of my relaxed hair and start over? My stylist suggested I cut it all off...but if you know me you know I wasn't having that! I decided to grow my hair out. This process took a year. But for that year, in an effort to reduce breakage and making sure my head didn't look crazy with half natural/half permed hair, I wore braids and sew-ins.

In September 2007, I finally decided to wear "my hair". It was a really traumatic experience for me. I only had a few strands of processed hair left, which my stylist cut off, she styled my hair, and VOILA! I was officially natural! To be honest, I wasn't that excited about it... I HATED the way she styled my hair. At first, it looked good. She braided it, put me under the dryer, and when my hair was dry took the braids out. It had this wavy, funky look to it. Then...she pulled out the curling iron and proceeded to curl my hair!! When I left, I felt like a big sponge. And to make matters worse, I was going to hang out with a friend (which I tried to get out of since my hair looked crazy)...so I was VERY self-conscious about my look. She made me feel better when I got to her door, but I know I looked a hot mess.

I tried to salvage my hair the next day, and I think I did a pretty good job. But it would be an interesting journey to find a style that suited me just right and one that I felt comfortable wearing...

The Beginning...

About 3 1/2 years ago I decided to go natural; for those of you that don't understand that means I decided to stop getting my hair chemically relaxed. I did this for two main reasons. One, after seeing multiple friends with their natural hair styles I began to wonder what my hair would look like it in its natural state. They had all styles from straight/sleek to curly to fro'd out. I love the versatility that I saw my natural friends having, and I wanted to experience it for myself. The second reason I wanted to go natural was because I saw the damage that getting your hair relaxed on a regular basis could do to your scalp...not on the OUTSIDE but on the INSIDE. I saw a picture of a woman's scalp who had been getting relaxers for 20 years. It was VERY black and looked unhealthy. This picture was next to a woman who had not had relaxers in a number of years; her scalp was a healthy, pink color. After I saw that picture, and two of my linesisters at the Atlanta Classic in 2006, I officially stopped getting my hair relaxed.
Needless to say, this has been a tumultuous journey, from finding what products to use, finding styles for my hair, and finding a stylist who knows how to do natural hair, but I'm still on it! This blog will serve as a way for me to share my feelings and stories of dealing with my natural hair and as a way for all of us natural girls to share our resources and suggestions. This can also serve as motivation or a swift kick for those girls who are thinking about going natural and need some encouragement, guidance, etc. So, happy reading, and stay truly napptural...