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. 

Thinking about Relaxers again

I consider myself to have been a natural hair sister since 2005. In 2002 shortly after I was married I experienced a very bad scalp reaction to my regular relaxer. For years I found my scalp was becoming indifferent to them. Sensitive scalp formulas offered no relief until I discovered a local salon that answered my dreams. However my scalp decided enough was enough.

Twist out 

My scalp was covered in thick yellow chunks of dandruff. The salon was so nice and offered me free treatments to correct the problem, but after my 4th free weekly treatment I decided to try something new. So it was not the burns that you get. After all I was trained to recognise this as part of the process since I was 5yrs old (could have been 4). My journey to natural hair began at 22yrs old.

To transition I wore my hair in extensions, head wraps (which I miss wearing), twist outs, braid outs. I googled natural hair and initially stumbled upon Black Hair Media, Nappturality, Motown Girl, Roshini whose current site is now Glamazini and not forgetting Afrobella. I had various resources and attitudes at hand to help shape me. I never entered any challenges I just took style ideas product junky pride and did the best I could. In between home styling I would go to my hairdresser and get a treatment and a trim until all the relaxer was gone. So in 2005 I declared I could not see anymore straight ends and welcomed it. I embraced my hair for what it was and have pictures of me out in town drinking with my friends.

Twists

Throughout this I discovered half wigs. Wow they transformed my look in an instant and my friends could not tell it was a wig as opposed to a weave. The curly hair styles became my staple. Imagine an accidental discovery becoming the go to look. Yes I have experimented with lace fronts but not for everyday wear. I just can not do that right now. Not knowing my hair was in a protective style it thrived. I gave birth twice as a natural and had no problems. 

I coloured my own hair unevenly all over and here is where I think it went wrong. The process dried out my hair to an extreme. Felt like straw afterwards. Took awhile to get it back in shape. 2010 I realised edges were thin and braking. 2011 I realised that from my hairlines to the middle crown of my hair it had broken off. So the remainder is longer at mid shoulder-ish when straightened, whilst the middle is not doing much. 

To make matters worst my hair feels so try. Now I do not know if this is down to me not washing my hair more often. I wash and condition my hair every week to two weeks. I tried co-washing but that process irritated my scalp. I used to use Castor oil to retain moisture. Maybe I need to re-discover it.

Canerow and afro puff

I just feel like right now my hair is dry, breaking, and my style options are stagnated. When my hair was relaxed I can only remember one time I suffered breakage. So that is once or twice in 17years. Whereas now it happens regular. I know relaxers are have negative effects. I am even considering a texturiser. Or maybe I should see if I can discover the natural laxers that don't sound natural.

  

Maybe a real return to protective styles such as twist extensions and a sew in weave. Well weaves never last long with me. I often wonder if I consciously made a better effort to lose weight if that would help. I personally feel I look better with certain styles when I have less fat on my body. 6 years of being chemical free is a long time. It is the only time besides birth in my life when my hair is as is. As much as I do not want to quit on my hair I want to be free from it. Surely natural hair was supposed to be the easier natural option. But it clearly is not for me at present.

transitioning times

I originally posted this poem on a forum. it somes up my journey.

Transitioning times

woa is me for these are transitioning times
my scalp is sore my
scalp is over dry
why or why lye
got so used to the creamy crack
thought i couldnt turn back
the abuse that society induced
felt like i was one step away
from injecting the lye to keep my hair in line
now blessed be He who has shown me love for the napp
my hairdresser seemed distressed
whilst my hair is becoming diverse
two textures i have at war
curly roots through to straight limp ends
pass me the shea butter and my wide tooth comb
curls today twists tomorrow
a revolution is amongst us
watch the manufactures scramble
to entice me to buy natural hair care
however now i can make my own
stay blessed forever nappy and loving it!!!

single braid challenge

Yesterday I tried to do all my hair in single braid extensions. I managed to do most of the sides and some of the front. In the end I got my friend Stephanie to finish it off for me. She did a good job too as it looks lovely. I just have to make sure that I oil my scalp as I do not want that to get overly dry. She told me of a ginseng spray that she has used whilst her hair was in braids. I am going to invest in one.
When I was trying to put my hair in braids in I realised how long my journey will be but yes I am determined to succeed.

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.

Transitioning begins

Today my hair is styled in flat twists at the front and the back is left out. On Saturday just gone I began my intensive treatment regime at the hairdressers. My hairdresser assessed my scalp as I have been experiencing dry itchy scalp. This has been intense since my last relaxer. So fingers cross my hair will be fine. By the time my treatment program ends it will be April. I am also going to the gym. I wonder if this will have any effects on my hair. I am told that I will need to do weekly hair washes as opposed to fortnightly. I will just have to see how my hair turns out when its au natural
Funny thing is that whilst telling my friends about my adventure into the natural sisterhood many are shocked many amazed others just say that they have heard this before. True. But I am determined. This is just another of those things I am doing for self.

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.