"Natural Hair" Wash n Go FroHawk

If you've been following my journey for a while, you know that my hair doesn't do well with wash and go's. Maybe I just haven't gotten the technique down. I don't know ((shoulder shrug). But after 15 months of being natural, I still try to master that dat gum wash n go.

So, here's what I did...The other day I pre-poo'd over night using Nature's Gate Aloe Vera Conditioner. The following morning, I shampoo'd out the conditioner focusing on my scalp. I did an instant conditioner (left in while I bathed). I then rinsed it out and got out of the shower.

I decided to try another wash n go (I refuse to give up, although I only try them about once a month, that's all the patience I have for wash n go's). On sopping wet hair, I used Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion as my leave in conditioner, followed up w/ Curl Queen and used Curls In A Bottle as my finisher. I did this in about 15 sections all over my head. I did a quick cold water rinse and shook my head to help my coils clump.

What I really can't stand about WnG's is that they leave my hair wet for HOURS! So, I ended up diffusing my hair on a cool setting--took about 30 minutes to get dry. The style looked OK, but, I'm sure you can imagine the shrinkage.

By the end of the day, my hair was pretty crunchy. Not necessarily helmet head reminiscent but, there was definitely a hold. So, I sectioned my hair, moisturized the ends with water and used Oyin Hair Dew on top and sealed it in with coconut oil. This resulted in pineappling (stretching) my hair in about 8 pony puffs.

The following morning, I took out the puffs and used my fingers to separate any parts, massaged and fluffed the roots. I really like the style and my hair is soft and moisturized.

I think this is great for anyone who doesn't like the shrinkage of a WnG. You can do many different styles with the stretched results of the WnG if you don't mind your hair not being fully defined.

I love my results!

The Most Outta Control 5 Minute Make-Up Challenge Ever!

The Debilitating Fear Of Failure-Release It!

The debilitating fear of failure can curse your life. Let go of those fears that will hold you back and prevent you from pursuing your dreams. 

In Review: ReVe' Essentials Hair & Body Butter

I've been using ReVe' Essentials Hair & Body Butter for the past 2 weeks. Only have used this product and water! Here's my results.

Urban Mosaics, LLC.

What have I been up to? A lot! But, here's a sneak peak of what's to come forth this summer!

URBAN MOSAICS

About Us: 

It all started with the big chop. There was no turning back. In rapid motion, the stylist wielded her pruning shears, excavating every strand of relaxed hair. And when she swung the chair around so I could see my reflection in the mirror, there it was -- a masterpiece. A beautifully sculpted, short, round, teeny-weeny Afro full of tightly spun coils. I’ll never forget the date -- March 12, 2011.

Was I nervous to show the world the new me? Of course! Did I need to carry the confidence of a million men? Definitely! Was I hoping I didn’t look like a boy? Yep! Did I worry my peers might laugh at me? Absolutely. Did I wonder whether my TWA (teeny-weeny Afro) would affect my 10-year-plus career in human resources? You betcha!  

Succumbing to such thoughts of non-acceptance would be tantamount to affirming that my hair wasn’t good enough to fit into mainstream society. I quickly abandoned the pestilent ponderings from my mind.  And then, something magical happened.

I purchased a T-shirt depicting a black woman donning a fabulous ‘fro. Her hair sort of looked like mine. Something erupted inside me the moment I glanced at a mirror. There I stood, sporting a TWA at 2 months natural, wearing a reflection of me, I thought, “Work it, honey!”

Something about wearing that garment made me feel more beautiful. Her fit was perfection. We were like-minded fashionistas. Hers was a muted statement to the world that our God-given kinky hair is gorgeous.

Fast-forward a year later and Urban Mosaics was birthed. I wanted to share with the world the same feelings and emotions that awoke within me when I wore my natural hair T-shirt. So, in essence, Urban Mosaics is made for the natural hair lover in you™.

It was created from the elation, acceptance and pride of wearing the original texture of hair we were born with, absent shame. An article of clothing that captures the essence of the indescribable beauty of African-American natural hair. Urban Mosaics is a vessel to express to the world that our hair is exquisite.  

Our clothing line signifies our zest for natural afro-textured hair that cannot simply be defined by alphanumeric characteristics (3c, 4a, 4b, 4c).  Urban Mosaics is a clothing line that expresses and illustrates natural hair in various media, from abstract art to beautifully arranged mosaic art forms.

 Urban Mosaics is high-quality clothing and accessory imagery created from a subjective perspective, radically distorting Afro-textured hair for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas regarding natural hair. Urban Mosaics is expressionist, wearable art intended to express meaning or emotional experience rather than the physical reality of our hair.

Our mission is to be a catalyst for change by promoting the beauty of textured hair signified by abstract works of wearable art.  Our vision is to help create an awareness of the indefinable beauty of natural hair by instilling a paradigm shift in the conscious mind.

It is our belief that natural hair should be lauded and celebrated with regal pride.  We hope to empower others and challenge the way they see our hair by expressing its beauty one Tee and accessory at a time. 

Love your lineage!™

Stay tuned... 

Oyin Hair Dew....How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

1)      Quick Absorption: The quick absorbing, lightweight properties of Oyin hair dew for this low porosity chick makes it the no#1 reason why I love it.  No more white creamy greasy stuff sitting on my hair.  No matter if I need to make a quick run to the store or if I’m running a little late for work and need a moisturizing quick fix, Oyin’s Hair Dew is my Holy Grail go to moisturizer that leaves no residue!   Love it, love it, love it!!!

2)      Super soft hair: Hard hair for this Coil Queen is a definite no-no!  Super soft hair that feels like velvet is the 2^nd reason I love this product.  Hair dew quenches my tightly coily hair and works wonders when styling coil-outs or when simply sporting/styling my TWA (teeny weeny afro).  My man can’t keep his hands out of my hair.  I don’t shy away from him playing in my hair, it’s so relaxing and also stimulates my scalp.  With serious hand in hair syndrome, I too admit, I can’t stop touching my “do” after apply hair dew.   

 

3)      Refreshing my “do”:  A little goes a long way is my third reason for loving thee! After lightly water spritzing my hair, I apply a dime size (and I do mean dime size) amount of hair dew and a tad bit of coconut oil or Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade (to seal in moisture) to my coils and voila! My hair is pliable and ready for root picking/lifting, a tug here and there and whoot there it is!  My “do” is done!

4)      Smells yummy:  It’s hard resisting a high quality, moisturizing product that smells yummy.  The aroma of hair dew smells like yummy to my tummy cake batter.  The scent isn’t over powering, no thanks to the wafting fragrance of a bakery (for my hair that is).  The barely detectable smell of yummy cake batter is just perfect for me.  I likey!

5)      M.O.I.S.T.U.R.I.Z.I.N.G.:  Last, but certainly not least, there’s nothing more blissful than finding the right moisture balance for my Afro-Textured hair.  Hair dew can be used as a leave-in conditioner or as a moisturizer, like a 2-in-1.  I prefer to use hair dew as a moisturizer.  For maintaining my moisture balance, I love using hair dew in the morning in preparation for styling my hair for the day and as a ‘night-cap’ before going to bed.  My tresses sips a little hair dew cocktail before lying down to rest under my satin bonnet.     

Oyin Hair Dew… ohhh how do I love thee!!!

Ingredients:  purified water, castor oil, olive oil, organic aloe vera gel, behentrimonium methosulfate (emulsifier), coconut oil, olive squalane (olea europa), optiphen (preservative), cetyl alcohol, and love!

8oz = $12

16oz = $19

Caught in the Matrix--The Relaxed Days

I won’t fake the funk and pretend that hair is a new obsession of mine as a natural.  I’ve always been inquisitive about hair and have always had a little obsession about hair (ok, maybe a major obsession).  I recall when I was a little girl, I must’ve done something that deserved a spanking.  After that butt whoopin’, age 7, I insisted to my mom and dad, that that particular can of whoop @ss must’a hurt my back and that I could hardly move (can you say—drama queen!).  It’s important to note that my dad at the time (now retired) was in the Air Force, and we were living overseas.  Child abuse laws were more strict than they are now.  I insisted that my parents take me to see a doctor due to my back pain (somebody…get my cane…lol).  Now, looking back, it wasn’t that bad of a whoopin, but at the time, I just felt that that particular spankin’ hurt a lil more than the other ones.  My mom and dad were frightened to take me to the emergency room (it was late evening). Fearful that they would be accused of child abuse (which I assure you, it was not), they bribed me with everything to not go to the hospital; candy, ice-cream, a new doll, anything not to go to the hospital (they also knew there was no real harm caused to me).  But, I was determined, (‘trick no good’).  So, hesitantly, they got dressed (I stayed in my jammy’s), when they came downstairs,  they saw me just a twisting and turning my back and patting and fluffing my huge billowing afro to ensure my hair looked good before I went to the hospital.  Uh, needless to say, we didn’t go to the hospital…HA!

Later on in life, (yes, I’m digressing-LOL), as an adult, I began going to the salon for chemical relaxers.  I know I was driving my beautician (hereinafter referred to as Agent Smith and/or Smith) nuts because I was always asking her questions about products.  Hey, what’s that you’re putting in my hair?  What’s that do?  Why are you doing it different this time than last time?  Agent Smith didn’t take too kindly to my questions.  Smith felt as though I didn’t trust her.  I tried to explain that it wasn’t distrust, it was just my natural inquisitive mind wanting to know the hair regimen Smith followed on my hair so that I could replicate it  for at home hair maintenance purposes (wink wink).    

Caught in the Matrix:  As a bald-headed relaxed chick (not by design) I suffered from horrible dandruff (shexy I know).  Relaxers burned me to no end (envision smoke wafting from my scalp).  Of course followed nasty scabs that I couldn’t help but to pick (so classy). My hair was breaking off at free-fall speed no matter how much I tried to delicately handle it. My paper thin relaxed hair never grew past my shoulders, more like, NEVER touched my shoulders. 

• Dandruff: As my saltyness (is there such a word?) about my hair situation progressed, I would sporadically conduct on-line research (various resources) about products to assist with remedying my above listed pestilent plight.  I discovered several websites that explained the benefits of tea tree oil/shampoo/conditioner to remedy dandruff.  I would mention my findings to Agent Smith, she insisted that these things were only for “white people” and that “some people just have dandruff and you’re one of them”.  Mmm-kay! Smith possessed the hair license, not me, so I dismissed my findings.  Obviously, my problem w/ dandruff continued (ewww). 

• Shampoo: Undeterred and driven to learn the reason/cause for my snowflakes, additional research continued (let’s just say “the Matrix” was appearing on my computer screen ;-)).  As I continued my research, I discovered the importance of removing product build-up from the scalp and hair via options of clarifying/chelating shampoo’s .  Research revealed a lack of such ‘deep cleaning’ results in unhealthy scalp conditions and could lead to (lo and behold)…dandruff.  I shared these research findings with Agent Smith.  Smith dismissed that notion and simply responded nonchalantly, “Clarifying products are for white people”.  Uh huh (side eye), “Well, Smith is the professional”, I thought, and I again, reluctantly dismissed my findings. 

• Trimming Ends:  Although I faithfully paid Smith $45.00 every salon visiting Wednesday (shampoo & style), my hair was not flourishing.  My research inquisition never halted.  Against my better judgment and research, Agent Smith attempted to convince me that trimming ends with every relaxer was imperative in order to remove constant recurring split ends.  Agent Smith stated, “Clipping the ends helps the hair grow faster and the more you clip, the faster the hair grows”.  And as I tried to make sense of my dream world vs reality, and even though my research contradicted this, and even though I realized that all my new growth was in vain as my ends were snipped like the foreskin of a newly born baby boy (yea, I said it), yup…I drank the kool-aid (can you say KOOL-AID SMILE).  I remember telling Smith on a relaxed salon visit, “Well, this time, make sure you clip off plenty, that way it will be sure to grow back 10xs faster (I promise my natural color is not blonde!).

• Breakage/Shedding: At various intervals, I began seeing tiny bits and pieces of my hair on my shoulders, the sink, my work desk and bathroom floor anytime my hair was touched.  I shared this info with Agent Smith during our weekly Wednesday sessions and nervously exclaimed, “I think my hair is breaking off”, I shared with Smith that I had enough breakage to coat an American Hairless Terrior (dramatics, but I’m so serious though!)   Smith contended that, “Your hair isn’t breaking, it’s shedding”.  “Even though there’s no bulb or root?” I would ask.  Smith  responded, “Well, your hair is short and therefore the hair you’re seeing is going to be short pieces of hair”.  After 7 years of visiting Agent Smith and lack of any evidence of growth.  I stopped drinking the Kool-Aid and downed the red pill with a double shot of Patron (that’s my drank). 

The point I’m getting to is that at some point in our hair journey either relaxed or natural, we know when something just isn’t right.  There are enough valuable resources out there such as CurlyNikki and Naturally Curly that lends itself to conscious and eager-to- learn people who seek knowledge on how to properly care for and maintain healthy hair.  We must be accountable for our hair decisions (or lack thereof), especially when all the evidence shows, ‘Houston, we have a problem’.  We shouldn’t (learn from me) allow Agents to lead us astray or provide us with hair care information/regimens that are contrary to unbiased, well researched and scientific data.  And we certainly should never allow them to make us feel guilty for questioning what they’re doing or putting in our hair; licensed or not!   

Since I’ve been living in reality of naturaldom; dandruff don’t live here anymore(sing with me)! And although I’m only 5 months post BC, I’ve seen noticeable differences in my hair and scalp.  And for the first time I’ve seen noticeable growth in these short months.  This is my story.  I know that not all naturals experienced such trials and tribulations when they were relaxed.  But, shouldn’t I have smelled the rank kool-aid when Smith insisted on telling me the oil was pronounced joe-joe-buh and that I was pronouncing it incorrectly by enunciating it ho-hoe-buh???  I knew Smith was wrong.  How could I have continued to allow this person to treat my hair when I knew the information they were telling me and even the mere pronunciation of jojoba oil was alarming?

Simply put, I was caught in the matrix of undeniably wrong and incorrect information in regard to the basic fundamentals of hair care and set aside all common sense and my intuition.  I accepted Smith’s façade of telling me that, “Some people’s hair just doesn’t grow long, and you’re one of them”. 

November 2010 marked the month that I swallowed the red pill and escaped the dream world. I met a Morpheus, aka CoilyHeadChick (a naturalista), was introduced to YouTube and the rest is history.  That was my rebirth.  On March 12, 2011 I big chopped and have been enjoying the delightful yet sometimes bumpy ride on the Nebuchadnezzar to Zion.  I’m sure I will make many stops on my way to Zion, as my journey has just begun.