Twisted Ballerina Bun

Today I’m rocking what I like to call the Twisted Ballerina Bun.  I like to rock this when I’m going for that professional look.   

This is how I achieve my Twisted Ballerina Bun:
Items You'll Need

• water bottle (optional)
• leave-in conditioner/moisturizer/gel/pomade (optional)
• hair tie (2)
• hair/bobby pins (optional)

•  Spritz hair with water, so that hair is pliable. (optional depending on the mood my hair is in) 

• Add leave-in conditioner/moisturizer and/or gel. (again, optional depending on the mood my hair is in.  I normally use leave-in conditioner)

• Smooth hair from top to bottom. You can either use your hands, or a brush.

• Gather hair into a ponytail.  Smooth the crown so there are no bumps. 

• Secure the ponytail with a hair tie. 

• Take the ponytail and roll it together from top to bottom. Then twist into a circle.  Then secure with hair tie.

Add a hairpins for extra security. (optional)
Add gel or pomade to smooth out crown and sides. (Optional) You can either use your hands, or a brush to smooth in.

All done!

Frizz Factor 10+

OMG!  Can you say FRIZZ!  My frizz factor is on 10+!!!  Fros are cool...but that was not the look I was going for :-(  I blame it on 1) the shampoo and deep conditioner that I used, and 2) my not so bright idea to detangle on hair that wasn't soaking wet.

The shampoo and deep conditioner that I used didn't seem to give me a drop of moisture.  I put the deep conditioner on with my heat cap for 30 mins, but after taking off the cap my hair seemed sooo dry and I didn't want to attempt to comb through the conditioner.  I had already finger detangled while rinsing out my oil treatment.  So I waited until I rinsed out the deep conditioner and applied my leave-in and styler.  I detangled as I combed through the styler.  Normally I wouldn't detangle so late in the process.  So I'm thinking it's probably the double whammy of the non-moisturizing shampoo and deep conditioner, and me detangling on hair that wasn't totally soaking wet.

Whatever the root cause....this is what I woke up to Sunday morning!  The clock was against me as I was trying to get ready for church.  In an attempt to camouflage the frizz, I opted for the messy bun seen below. Whew....the messy bun definitely saved me from being late!

Pure Shea Store Goodies

While at Women's Empowerment last month, I picked up some goodies from Pure Shea Store! I can't wait to try them out! I got them from company founder Chris, aka "The Soapman" himself :-)

Pure Shea Store products are completely natural and created without animal testing, parabens, GMOs or other harmful ingredients. Their focus is on providing products made with the best possible ingredients. All products are made by hand in their warehouse in Baltimore, MD based on the recipe of the founder's grandmothers (Grandma Pearlie and Dee Dee).

I'll be trying out the Mango Hemp-Shea Shampoo Bar, as well as the Shea Leave-In Conditioner.  I've never used a shampoo bar in my life, so I'm very interested to see how I like it! I'll let you know :-)

Check out Pure Shea Store products for yourself at the following website:Pure Shea Store or visit one of their many stores (locations can be found via the website as well).

Kinky/Curly Hall of Fame - Chaka Khan

This multi Grammy award winning singer/song writer came to fame in the 70's. She's famous for hits like "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You", "Through the Fire", and "Sweet Thing", just to name a few.  To date, Chaka Khan and her amazingly enormous curly fro are still synonymous! 

Snip Snip - It's Trim Time

 

I've gotten quite a few questions about trimming, and how often I trim my ends.  Personally, I trim my hair about every 3 months. When I straightened my hair more regularly, I probably did it about every 2 months, since I was using heat on my hair.  But being that I don't use heat often, every 3 months works well for me.  If in between that time period I see any random splits, I'll run and grab the scissors and snip right above the split on that particular hair strand.

Since I'm an accountant, I usually perform my routine end maintenance right after the accounting quarter close.  It's just easier for me to remember that way.  The accounting quarter close happens every 3 months, so that's my cue to trim :-)

My Process for Trimming:
1) Twist hair in big or medium size twists (about 8-18 depending on how I'm feeling).   My primary reason for twisting is to stretch the hair so that the ends are easier to see and cut.

This time I twisted an old wash and go that I had worn for 3 days and was starting to frizz.  I spritzed with water and twisted up.  Other times I'll put in the twist right after I wash my hair.

2) When twists are dry I then proceed to take them out.  (I'll usually leave in overnight)

3) As I am taking out the twist I divide the unraveled twist into sections, and just clip clip. I would estimate that I cut about 1/4-1/2 inch off the ends.

That's all I do....it's not the  most scientific way, but it works for me. Even with my non-scientific method my hair is still fairly even.  Since I wear my hair curly 95% of the time it doesn't matter to me if my hair is perfectly even.  I'm more concerned about the shape of the curly fro, over the super evenness when straightened.

How about you?  What's your hair trimming process?

Multivitamin w/ Biotin for Healthy Hair

Not to long ago I was at my neighborhood Vitamin Shoppe.  I was talking with my oh so knowledgeable vitamin girl about mushroom complex and wellness formula, and suddenly I thought about a conversation I had with one of my coworkers about hair thinning. My coworker was interested in learning how to increase her hair's body and strength.

In talking with my vitamin girl I learned that usually a multivitamin that includes biotin normally does the trick. Biotin has been found to aid in hair growth and overall hair health. She mentioned that most times postpartum woman that experience shedding after childbirth are found to have biotin deficiency.  It helps to strengthen both hair follicles and the hair shaft. Taken regularly, hair will be stronger and less prone to breakage.

My vitamin girl recommends taking a multivitamin with biotin, as oppose to straight biotin. She said the multivitamin that I currently take, Alive! Once Daily Women's Ultra Potency, is perfect as it contains 325 mcg. Another recommendation was Mytrition Women's Personal Packs. 

Although you can take just straight biotin, she only recommends this if you are REALLY experiencing hair thinning/loss.  The usual biotin supplement is about 5000 mcg, which when taking regularly will strengthen your hair something fierce!  The average person does not need that much.  So she only recommends this if you have a serious deficiency, because this will effect ALL of your hair.  As in all over your body! Meaning legs, arms, eyebrows, everywhere!  So only take what is really necessary, ie multivitamin, if you are not really deficient :-)

Anywho, that's my spiel for today! Ta ta for now! 

Tassie - Curly Girl Extraordinaire

Tassie

The other day I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with one of my dear friends Tassie.  This fellow naturalista is a licensed Holistic Skin Care Therapist.  Tassie is the owner of Restorations Holistic Skin Care Services, as well as creator of Tacia Essentials (Skin, Hair, and Body organic product line).   She's a naturalista in about every sense of the word.  So of course I just HAD to interview her :-)

How long have you been relaxer free?

It's been about 9-10 years.

Did you slowly transition or do a drastic big chop?

I big chopped.  Actually, I've done 3 big chops :-)

You did your initial big chop to remove your relaxed hair, but you've also had 2 other big shops since you've been natural.  What were your reasons for the 3?

The 1st time was because I was tired of my hair. The 2nd was because I finally found a support system for natural hair. I wanted to start over utilizing the new support system.  The 3rd time, I felt like my hair should have been longer and it wasn't as healthy as I wanted it to be.  So I just wanted to start over. 

How did family and friends react to your decision to wear your hair naturally curly?

They were very supportive.  (They have no choice, it's my freakin hair lol lol)

What would you say are your biggest hair challenges?

1 - Retaining moisture

2 - Being lazy;  like not doing it every day like I'm suppose to.

3 - I don't want to say styling.... The basic style of the puff I do that alot.  But every now and then styling does become a challenge because I don't really know much.  I get bored with hair so quick.  That's why I could never loc my hair, I would get bored so quick and just boom cut it off quick.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have 4 hair products/tools, what 4 would you choose?

1 - Definitely water. That's just obvious. My hair loves water.

2 - Conditioner - It helps to keep it nice and supple.
3 -Tacia Essentials Shea Butter Blend

4 - Paddle Brush - When it's wet with conditioner I take the paddle brush and REALLY comb through it.

Do you have any hair inspirations?  If so who?

There are a few people i like on YouTube.  Let's see... MsVCharles, Longhairdontcare, and +Naptural85 

Any words of wisdom or advice you’d like to pass on to others?

EMBRACE YOUR HAIR!!!!  Love every single stage that you go through because there is always something new to learn.