Getting beyond the box...

I've spent my life, trying to please everyone else
No more of that, gotta look out for self.
I'm getting out of the box, it's time to break free
From this point on, ima do me....

Mastering the twist out...

Well I have adopted the famed twist out as my style of choice for the time being. It's relatively low maintenance and...well, I just like it. Hopefully I will be able to master the art of the twist out sooner than later. I do flat twists and have been playing around with the number of twists that I do (usually 4 -6). Mind you that I am new to this and am working with mostly relaxed hair. The "plan" is to trim monthly until I have achieved enough natural length to be somewhat comfortable when I go for the big chop. Suggestions are definitely welcomed, especially other styling options. The twist out in the picture was done with 4 big twists...it's somewhat fuzzy but I think I actually like the "wild" hair look...lol! Well I gotta go make some money...peace out peeps!

Relaxer Withdrawal...

Today I experienced a touch of relaxer withdrawal. While in a store I saw a young lady with a fresh relaxer. Girlfriends hair was tight! It laid just past her shoulders and was full of body. It was beautiful. I thought to myself how easy it would be to fall off the wagon but my curiosity helps keep me on track. I think just knowing that transitioning takes a while makes me a little antsy. It doesn't help when you have to deal with your own thoughts of doubt as well as those of others. I recently got the natural naysayer face when I told someone I was going natural...they asked me why I was doing it, my response...a simple why not. Gotta love it! It's just like the song says, I have to encourage myself if I plan to succeed in my transition.

A Kid in the Candy Store...

Who would have thought there were so many hair care products out there. For those of us who's product knowledge is limited to what we've seen in Wal-Mart, Sally's etc...it's like whoa!!! There are so many products out there and I am definitely a product junkie. So I will continue in my transition like a kid in the candy store. As I try new products I will definitely give props where due. Yesterday I purchased some Cantu Shea Butter No Drip Hair & Scalp Oil. It was inexpensive and easy to use. We'll see how well my hair likes it. I am also researching several products from Carol's Daughter and will hopefully develop a regimen that is perfect for my hair. Thanks to all those who have natural hair resources on the web already. It is a great help and encourages me to stay in transition when I get the relaxed hair blues. It is good to know that many people have gone before me and paved the way to make my transition easier. It's funny because a friend of mine tried to get me to go natural about 3 years ago...needless to say, I wasn't ready. Now I look back and wish I had started then...but no need crying over spilled milk. This is my season and so I press on.

Update: I actually liked the Cantu Shea Butter but stopped using it as a result of my experiment to see if products containing nuts (including shea) were contributing to my constant skin outbreaks. It's funny because my skin has cleared up quite a bit since I cut out some of the nut containing products.

What to do, what to do...

I just got back from a 4 day trip to Myrtle Beach. My hair has basically been in a ponytail all week as I have been swimming quite a bit. Of course I washed and moisturized after each trip to the pool/ocean, but I am now sitting at home trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my hair today. At this point in the game, professional assistance is not an option so I need to figure out what to do for the moment. I will wash and twist tonight as that style is old faithful to me. I am seriously considering the "big chop" but have not built up enough nerve to do it...yet! But still I press....determined to hang in there as I grow to really love my kinky locks. My current motto in this transition is..."wait for it, wait for it..." I'll get there...slowly but surely, I'll get there. My next step is to find the best products to condition, nourish and moisturize my hair. Anyone who reads this please give your input. Thanks in advance.

Loving the freedom...

I went swimming today and I love the fact that I didn't have to come home and blow dry and flat iron my hair. I washed the chlorine out, moisturized it and pulled it into a quick pony tail to air dry. One of the reasons I don't go swimming more often is because I don't want to spend 2 hours doing my hair... Today was great...I am loving the freedom!!!

Two weeks in...

Well, it's been two weeks and right now my hair looks like blahhh... Everyday I am so tempted to wash out my twist out and flat iron my hair. I continue on though...some days look better than others but I think I might like the wild look. :-) I am finding that the key is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!! Otherwise my hair looks like troll doll. I Hopefully I will soon find some new styles that I can do myself. But right now the twist out is my constant companion. I continue my journey, still curious to know my real hair...I will continue to press.

Odd Man Out...

Well this morning I untwisted my hair and all was well except this one twist (the Odd Man out) was way to tightly curled. Arghhh!! The rest of my hair has a loose wave and one twist (the one in the front) is all jacked up! I guess I will have to twist it back up tonight. Arghhh! I guess it will take me some time to master that style...plus I am working with mostly relaxed hair. Not discouraged though...I am actually very curious to know how it will look with my natural hair. I am contemplating cutting the relaxer out but I don't quit think I'm there yet. Anyway the transition continues....

The Revolution Has Begun!

I have started this blog to track my journey as I transition from a life of chemical dependency (i.e. relaxers) to a world of hair freedom. For many years I have worked hard to maintain the facade of straight hair that relaxers offer. I have cringed at the thought of having kinky edges and longed for the perfectly straight hair that bounces in the wind when you walk...lol. All for what...a head full of unhealthy hair. Now mind you I don't frequent the beauty salon often, as it is costly and time consuming. I am sure my hair would be healthier if I were getting my chemical fixes from a licensed cosmetologist. But, I am at a point where I no longer want to proceed as usual. I have prayed for the discipline to stay on this journey and a "whatever" mindset when dealing with those who have not yet joined the revolution. I am just 1 week into this transition and it has already been prophesied by the naysayers that I will quickly revert back to my chemical dependent ways. Prayerfully I will be successful in my transition and finally get to know my real hair. Ultimately it doesn't matter what anyone thinks and yes this will push me way beyond my comfort zone...but in the end I plan to have "The Best Head Ever"!