Keratin not for natural curls...

Saw this video recently about the dangers of Keratin treatments for curly hair. Also highlighted how hairdressers can have such a lax attitude to what a customer wants. Glad the lady in the video found a salon that understood her needs.

Pelo Malo / Bad Hair

Have you seen this documentary yet?

My full thoughts can be found on my other blog Lushes Brown Thoughts. This documentary mainly concentrates on people of Latin and Caribbean America many of whom live in the USA and just goes to show that this inbred attitude towards our hair is very unhealthy. However the tide has been changing so let it continue.

I know for me right now I tend to use protective styles but I hope to change that to a winter protect and spring summer flowing free UK weather permitting. 

World's biggest Afro

I was browsing Concrete Loop and saw this video. It is about Aevin Dugas who according to the Guinness  World Records has the largest Afro in the world. It measures 4ft. Wow. 100% natural afro kinky hair. In some other videos I have watched she says the afro is not her everyday style and she usually opts for a more simpler style.

If anyone know what her youtube channel is if she has one please let me know

Here is another video where she is interviewed on BBC news.

A few textured hair pics

lightly blow dried

I wash my hair yesterday and thought I would take some textured hair shots. I used Tresseme Naturals moisturising shampoo and conditioner. I find this one feels less stripping to my hair and definitely moisturising. Anyway I took this as an opportunity to share some textured pics. My hair is not yet in the best condition but it is getting there. I am finding that my hair needs washing at least once a week to help it's moisture levels. I could be wrong who knows but that is what I think. I need tips on moisture breakage prevention. As soon as I am able I am going to a professional to take off about 2 inches just to ensure all split ends are gone. I just still cannot work out why right in the middle of my head I have the strangest breakage. Some of pics are taken without flash as the hair was not showing up as I could see in the mirror. So I may need to work on my camera technique for the next time. 

with flash

Culture of weaves and wigs

I spotted this video over at Black Girl With Long Hair. I found it interesting. I like the fact our hair is being spoken about so much these days and what I am hearing is positive. The debates in America  are definitely ahead of the UK, but with so many UK based blogs and websites dedicated to natural hair popping up I hope to read more good stuff.

I used to switch between protective styles to wearing my hair out to wearing head wraps. Now I mainly wear protective styles which I will start to discuss. However I have a goal for my hair which once achieved I will wear my hair out more. What are your thoughts on the discussion?

Hair update

Freshly shampooed conditioned and blow-dried somewhat

I thought I would share a picture of my hair. The angle this picture has been taken in can be deceiving, but it show how uneven the length of my hair is. I have always had problems with the sides of my hair with breakage. My current reliance on protective styling such as half wigs and extensions may be the cause or my past dye job as its only the ends with colour that break. Please note that my hair is not thick at all. It is very fine textured but dense. When I relaxed my hair, it had no body and that was because it is naturally fine.

When I dyed my hair ages ago it became really dry, though I managed to get the moisture levels back in order. At present my hair has a colour that is not pretty but once I have visited my hairdresser I will see what he thinks I should do. I am actually going to let him take about an inch off. I have not trimmed my hair in over a year. I have spotted split ends so I need to get them removed.

Although I have suffered from breakage I really want my hair to be in Senegalese twists. People are charging £60-80 for that and at present is a lot for me to pay. Especially when right now there are some material things I really wish to buy like a new car.

I guess for the new year my aim will be to correct the colour and research and perfect the moisture levels in my hair. I am also about to place my order for some Miss Jessies products from British Curlies, while the offer is still on. I will also try out a product from Darcy Botanicals.

If you have any product suggestions or routine tips or general advice please share. I am all for learning if told in the right way.

I love my hair

Aww this is such a cute video. It is a video about loving your hair using a sesame street puppet.

My gorgeous fro

Just look at that hairline. It looks atrocious. I think it is because I wear a lot of pieces and my hair is always pulled back. Having said that though. My fro looks gorgeous in this pic. I often think my hair does not look nice when indeed it does. In this pic my hair is freshly washed and blow dried. It is just doing what it does. I now need to get serious about taking care of my hair.

Though I wonder if I should purchase a membership on Long Hair Care forum or make use of the many blogs and Youtubers out there. I need a routine that is simple and consists of no more than 4 products though they can be varied.

Crunchy hair

When you go into the bargain stores, some products are worth a try. I bought two Tony&Guy products. One being the Jamelia model me conditioner and the other high gloss blow dry lotion. These were selling very cheap in Home Bargains so I thought I would give it a go. The conditioner is lovely and I will continue to use it untill it finishes.

However the High gloss blow dry lotion is horrible. It made my hands sticky and also caused my 100% natural hair to feel crunchy. I am certain some residue is there because I can see something falling like dust out of my hair when I comb it. Now I will need to wait to wash my hair for at least one weak. Now I know not everything is worth trying.

Not sure if I can maintain

Ok so I have not really been keeping my hair journal up to date as I should. I have reached a cross roads with my hair. I go to a hairdressers for deep conditioning treatments once a month and also to have trims when required. She is really good, however I always leave feeling that I should relax my hair.

I asked my wonderful friends their honest opinions regarding me going back to the chemical process of relaxing. They were unanimous in saying that I have been natural for so long and they felt that I should just stay as I am. Arguments being the long process to get of a relaxer and other hair options opened to me. Such as pressing when I want a straight look, instant weave or natural hairstyles that are maybe more adventurous than what I have tried before.

I was lucky to be selected as one of the winners on Afrobella for the creme of nature competition. I just hope customs are not red eye and deliver my goods to me etc. Whether I recieve them or not one thing for sure it does mean to me maybe I should try a bit longer.

I have twisted my hair. I am not a fan of twists. Simply because I do not believe they suit me. I also do not like my weight right about now. I see twist on sisters on youtube and various blogs and think wow they are cute. But the twist have done are simply so I can do a twist out. I have a few more days to go. If I dont like the twist out I will just comb it out. What I do to my hair then I just do not know.

I think I need to get a ghana braid or weave or just some singles to mull over my hair for a while.

progress

Okay so now I am making progress with my hair. I have discovered many natural hair sites. Some of them are www.nappturality.com whereby all talk of chemical treatments is met with harshness. The site is strictly pro natural. Also other sites www.euronaps.com www.roshini.net http://motowngirl.com www.cornrows.co.uk . Another site which is not just about natural hair but caters for all types and style choices of black hair and beauty is www.blackhairmedia.com .

The other day I spoke to my aunty . I told her I was going natural, which she is already, she said many girls in London are going natural. I find my hairdresser pretty much pro relaxer. Though now they except some what that I intend to grow the chemical ends out. They suggested that I come back every two weeks for treatments. I cannot afford to do so. A sister has bills to pay. Plus I can always slap conditioner on my head and go in the bath or steam room at the gym and get the same effect.
Today I was meant to put my hair in single extensions by myself, but a combination of me babysitting from the night before to getting the small things done meant it just was not gonna happen. So I have rescheduled for next week Thursday and good Friday. I cant wait. I have bought bags of hair.
I am also learning new phrases and words in relation to natural hair. Seems like I have been missing out on loads. One that I found interesting was ‘no poo’. This basically means that instead o using shampoo to cleans the hair you just use the conditioner. From what I have learned. Shampoo often contains many harmful chemicals that do more bad than good to your hair and the conditioner can clean your hair just as good. I am not ready to try this out yet, but will make note. Another phrase is a TWA or teeny weenie afro, which speaks for itself. Other phrases are twist out and braid out.
My main aim whilst transitioning is to learn many techniques to help me manage my hair myself.

Decision time

Back in October 2002 I had decided to grow out the relaxer and become a natural hair sister. When I say natural , I mean without any chemical treatments. I have grown up not knowing what my own God given hair was like except that when my hair grew my roots were curly. In the current state that its in its fine in texture . I hoping that by going natural it will be thicker and much more exciting. I still love straight hair with sweeping bangs Aaliyah style but I guess I can get an accessory to do that. I am also hoping that I will have more styling options. I had my hair cut and grew it out with extensions for a year and then relaxed it back. So far I have tried growing my hair natural 3 times and gave up. But I am hoping that I can do this. It will be a challenge. I have also got someone to give me tips in doing my own singles braid extensions. Oh yeah when I say I am going back to my roots, I mean my natural hair.