So I made the change guys. I've taken the long awaited step. After being on my relaxed hair journey for 1 year, I decided it was time to go the natural root. I've been transitioning since January meaning that's when I did my last relaxer.
What made you make the change?
I decided to go natural when I was looking through YouTube trying to find some videos on relaxed hair journeys when I came across some videos with the topic: The Big Chop. I was not about to do that but I was interested in what these girls went through. I went further and learned why these girls decided to go natural and what it really meant to them. I learned that going natural is only a big step because women put way too much meaning into it. Hair does not define any women. It also came to my attention that many of us black women think that straight hair is more attractive than kinky curly hair. Society has engraved this into our head for so many years we don't even realized that our hair in its natural state is the most beautiful. Our hair was not meant to be straight... The unique texture of our hair is one that can not be duplicated by any other ethnicity. We can, of course, straighten our hair with heat anytime we'd like but all we have to do to get back to our curly natural state is wet it ;)
What products do YOU use?
I use many different products: ORS, Herbal Essence, Elasta QP, Cantu Shea Butter, Shea Moisture and the list goes on. I also use a variety of oils: coconut, olive, jojoba, grapeseed, avocado, Moroccan argan, and shea butter. I will elaborate in a future post when I create an actual regimen.
How long will you transition for?
I plan on transitioning until I can put my natural hair into a ponytail. I must say I still have a little bit of the "my hair is very important to me" mentality but I have drastically improved. Hopefully by my one year of transitioning, I can remove all of my relaxed ends and finally be able to say "I'm natural".
What do you do to make the transitioning process easier?
Transitioning is very hard. Dealing with two different textures has been a struggle but I think I've found a way to make it easier on myself.
1. Detangling when your hair is wet/ damp. Trust me, it makes life much easier. Add a moisturizer or conditioner. This will create slip and help your fingers or wide-tooth comb to glide through your hair.
2. After you wash your hair, MOISTURIZE! It is very important that your hair is moisturized.
3. Use protective/ low manipulation styles. Box braids have been my best friend during my transitioning period. Buns, twists, braids all help with transitioning.
4. Use a silk or satin scarf before bed. Wrapping your hair with a scarf keeps the moisture in your hair and off your cotton pillow.
5. Wash your hair often. Washing your hair once or twice a week will make your hair more manageable.
6. Less heat! Try air drying. Maybe cut back to straightening your hair once a month.
Any cool and interesting tips for those who are transitioning or natural?
I learned this trick that saved my life. I know this is a problem that many girls face: getting them edges to lay! Here's my tip: gel down your edges with your favourite gel, use a toothbrush to really get those baby hairs together. Then, tie your edges down with a satin or silk scarf while you finish your style, get ready, put on your makeup, whatever! When you are ready, remove the scarf and voila! Laid edges!
Going natural is a choice I made for myself, no one else. Don't let anyone tell you what you should do. Your health and happiness is priority. Have fun with it. You only have one life. Live it to its full potential. Try new things. You'll never know if you'll like something unless you try it!
Love, love, love and peace
blog on hair, makeup, skin, & fashion
Showing posts with label Hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hair. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Moist Hair For All!
Hey beautiful people it's been a long time. I decided to post MY wash day routine for some of you to get a feel of what my hair journey consists of. It's not alot. Pretty simple actually! It goes as follows:
1. I wash my hair with a moisturizing shampoo. (you can use what ever shampoo you like. I just started using ApHogee). When I wash my hair I focus on the roots. This is the area of my hair that needs the most cleaning. Washing your ends is pointless because the shampoo will eventually get to them as you rinse your hair and shampoo is used to strip the hair of dirt and oils. Your ends need as much moisture and hydration as possible to stay healthy and strong. I shampoo my hair only ONCE a week!
2. After I have rinsed out the moisturizing shampoo out of my hair, I then apply a conditioner. The conditioner I usually use is Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. But I just recently recieved EQ Elasta Soy Oyl Protein & Vitamins Ultra Hydration and I really like it. My hair is soft upon rinsing it out. I only leave this in for as long as it takes to put in. With conditioners, the focus should be on the ends. This is done TWICE a week. Once with a shampoo wash and once as a co-wash.
3. Third I use a deep conditioner also from the EQ Elasta Soy Oyl Ultra Hydration line. This I leave in for no less than 30 mins. I often leave it in over night if it's very late and I don't have plans the next morning. The longer you keep deep conditioner in your hair, the softer and more manageable your hair will become. Remember, this is the dc I use. If you perfer another brand or type use that. Everyones hair is different and reacts differently to different products. (wow I said different alot in that sentence :P)
4. The forth thing I do after I have rinsed and towel dried my hair is use a leave-in conditioner. I use Herbal Essences Long-term Relationship. It does say that this product is aimed for those with long hair but I use it because it helps my ends keep strong. Leave-in conditioners should be applied throughout the hair and especially on the ends. I then detangle with a wide rake comb. When I have completed that, I use a moisturizer and I highly recommend Organic Roots Stimulator Olive Oil Incredibly Rich Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion for those looking for a daily moisturizer. Trust me, it is the bomb.com. Juts becareful not to use too much product because it can weigh your hair down. After that I seal with a natural oil or argon oil. Focusing once again on the ends and edges for both moisturizing and sealing.
5. If I don't have time to air dry I will either blow dry or sit under the hair dryer depending on the amount of time I have. I, of course, use a heat protector and that's it. For air drying before bed, I tie a silk scarf around my hair line, put my hair in a bun, and then put on my silk bonnet.
It seems like alot but it's actually not that bad when you are actually going through the process. This is what I have come to realize works for ME. I hope this was helpful.
Happy Hair Journey
love love love,
mariah
1. I wash my hair with a moisturizing shampoo. (you can use what ever shampoo you like. I just started using ApHogee). When I wash my hair I focus on the roots. This is the area of my hair that needs the most cleaning. Washing your ends is pointless because the shampoo will eventually get to them as you rinse your hair and shampoo is used to strip the hair of dirt and oils. Your ends need as much moisture and hydration as possible to stay healthy and strong. I shampoo my hair only ONCE a week!
2. After I have rinsed out the moisturizing shampoo out of my hair, I then apply a conditioner. The conditioner I usually use is Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. But I just recently recieved EQ Elasta Soy Oyl Protein & Vitamins Ultra Hydration and I really like it. My hair is soft upon rinsing it out. I only leave this in for as long as it takes to put in. With conditioners, the focus should be on the ends. This is done TWICE a week. Once with a shampoo wash and once as a co-wash.
3. Third I use a deep conditioner also from the EQ Elasta Soy Oyl Ultra Hydration line. This I leave in for no less than 30 mins. I often leave it in over night if it's very late and I don't have plans the next morning. The longer you keep deep conditioner in your hair, the softer and more manageable your hair will become. Remember, this is the dc I use. If you perfer another brand or type use that. Everyones hair is different and reacts differently to different products. (wow I said different alot in that sentence :P)
4. The forth thing I do after I have rinsed and towel dried my hair is use a leave-in conditioner. I use Herbal Essences Long-term Relationship. It does say that this product is aimed for those with long hair but I use it because it helps my ends keep strong. Leave-in conditioners should be applied throughout the hair and especially on the ends. I then detangle with a wide rake comb. When I have completed that, I use a moisturizer and I highly recommend Organic Roots Stimulator Olive Oil Incredibly Rich Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion for those looking for a daily moisturizer. Trust me, it is the bomb.com. Juts becareful not to use too much product because it can weigh your hair down. After that I seal with a natural oil or argon oil. Focusing once again on the ends and edges for both moisturizing and sealing.
5. If I don't have time to air dry I will either blow dry or sit under the hair dryer depending on the amount of time I have. I, of course, use a heat protector and that's it. For air drying before bed, I tie a silk scarf around my hair line, put my hair in a bun, and then put on my silk bonnet.
It seems like alot but it's actually not that bad when you are actually going through the process. This is what I have come to realize works for ME. I hope this was helpful.
Happy Hair Journey
love love love,
mariah
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