Curly Remix

I've Moved!!!

2013-02-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all!

I have loved the chance to get my feet wet in the blogging world with Blogger.com. But, as you can see from the sign above, I have moved to another site, www.curlybrowngirl.com. Hopefully, you'll follow me there. Seeing you on the other side!

Sherry.

Whitney Houston, My Way : A Curly Haired Learning Experience

2013-01-17T17:58:00.000-08:00

So here is my take on one of Whitney Houston's styles from the eighties.

This one is from her "How Will I know" video:

Now, I don't have a big foil-y bow. (I'm pretty sure I wouldn't wear it if I did;). But, a nice scarf works well with this look. (I got this one from the Dollar Tree:p) Plus, I actually learned something really cool about my hair.

After I wash my hair, I usually stretch my hair by pinning it straight across to the other side of my hair. This gives me more length. I actually tried this style on stretched out hair, that was like 5 days old. That gave me very full, shoulder length, looser curls. Del estilo de Whitney (Whitney's style).

But as you can see from the picture above, my hair looks much shorter. Surprise, I like it better! This week because of time constraints, I washed my hair and twisted it while it was still very wet. Usually I sit with an old t-shirt on my head to soak up most of the water. This time, I just applied my leave-in, my oils and started twisting. I simply wore my twists out of doors, without stretching them for length. So, I got shrinkier (not a real word, I know), tighter curls. But, I love that my hair looks more like a shorter, more angular bob than usual. Plus, I didn't have to chop off any hair to achieve this look. Bonus!

So, what did I learn?

Sometimes less is more.

It's not like I have a really detailed routine. I wash. I condition. I deep condition. I twist or braid. But, this time because I was short on, uh, time, I discovered I don't have to spend what usually amounts to an hour and a half manipulating my hair in order to get a look I like. Sometimes, it's good to just let it do what it do! You may be very pleasantly surprised.

So, what have you learned recently about yourself or your hair?

And uh, just 'cause it's been in my head all day long:

Curly Hair Care --Yesteryear Protective Styling

2013-01-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

Often, we'll look for protective hairstyle to protect our tresses from damaging elements. The heat, the wind, the sun, our own wondering hands. While looking for a particular retro styled up-do, I found this video on YouTube. It kinda reminded me of the roll and tuck-type hairstyles that we wear nowadays.

I enjoy anything that is from an era gone by. So, I love, love, love history, old movies, vintage fashions and the like. This video encompasses all of those things.

The actress in the video, Veronica Lake, was known for her long hair in a peek-a-boo hairstyle, covering one eye. It was so wildly popular, that women everywhere copied her look. Unfortunately, it wasn't very practical for working around machinery and assembly lines. History fact: In this 1943 Paramount newsreel, she is adopting an upswept hairdo at the order of the War Womanpower Commission, to discourage "peekaboo bangs". Apparently, after too many women imitating her hairdo were injured on the job. So, here, she demonstrates a hairstyle that had more to do with safety than beauty. Also, in the video, there are scenes of women gathering their hair under a cap for the same reason. (Kinda reminded me of a turban. My current obsession.)

This style can be duplicated simply by rolling your hair on each side of you head and pinning into place. If your hair is longer, as you come toward to back of your head, you can gather the two side with a hair tie and form a ponytail. Pin into a bun. That's it!

What retro hairstyle do you love? Leave a comment.

I Love the Eighties! Whitney's My Hair Idol!

2012-12-18T19:49:00.002-08:00

I was a child of the eighties. I love the music. The BEST shows came out in the eighties. Remember: The Cosby Show, FAME, Wonder Woman, He-Man, 21Jump Street? And the music...awesome! Michael Jackson was of course huge! Remember New Edition came out in the eighties, along with Madonna, Duran Duran and Whitney Houston. Prince and Sheila E., Janet Jackson...

The funny thing is almost everyone had the same hairstyles, or variations of it. Big, awesome gravity-defying hair. Men and women!

What can I say, Whitney, for my sisters and I she was...can I say awesome. She was obviously talented, because, well, that voice. Nothing I had heard before was even close. Plus, she was gorgeous, just stunning. But, still real. Like, she could of been a really cool cousin or a neighbor. (I mean, I wouldn't have been cool enough to hang out the her, but still...lol.)

What I never really noticed before was the stages of her hairstyles. Although I remember many of her very sleek, straight-haired styles. Just perusing her pictures from the eighties, it's easy to see when she first came out, she did the big, curly haired thing. Still striking, but less coiffed than in her later albums and performances. I love it! It was still very put together. Obviously, she had a great hair cut. Or some awesome wigs. (And I want one!) Either way, the final outcome was breathtaking. So, after much thought, my eighties hair idol is...

Whitney Houston.

I love her hair!!!!

2012-12-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

I love both of these styles! Great protective styles for any occasion. I will be trying to figure these out. And...I want the earrings!

I'm doin' this!--Curry Chicken

2012-12-06T18:37:00.001-08:00

Hey y'all!

In my blog description, I forgot mentioned food. I love to cook! Not necessarily for my own taste. Mostly, I just love to cook something delicious and watch the crowd's reaction. "The crowd" is often just my hubby Wally, family and friends. Quite often, they are guinea pigs in my kitchen laboratory.

My in-laws are from the Caribbean, Jamaica and French Dominica. I love that I have two different cultures to pull recipes from. So, this week, as a surprise, I cooked curry chicken. I don't call it Jamaican curry chicken because it is not authentically Jamaican. Here's that recipe.

My version came from a blog I recently discovered and LOVE. It's called skinnytaste.com. It is a website that does the weight watcher version of almost any recipe. Also, blogger Gina, publishes the stats: points, calories, carbs, etc....Awesome site great picture! Be sure to browse.;)

So here is the skinnytaste version of the curry chicken recipe. It uses almost no fat. I used skinless chicken breast. Oh and the best thing..I put it all in the crock pot! Ridiculously easy!!

I'm not doing weight watcher, but I love the idea of making our food healthier , while keeping the sabor! The real test. Hubby gave me the thumbs up!

Here's my finished product.

Bentonite Clay for Hair Update

2012-11-22T17:02:00.002-08:00

So, I finally did the bentonite clay hair mask/ shampoo trial. And...I loved it! I chose to do the second recipe from my previous article about bentonite clay. Well, sort of. I thought maybe the apple cider vinegar might be too drying for my sensitive scalp. Also, I wanted to try coconut milk instead of yogurt.

That being said, I found the mixture pretty easy to apply and rinse out. Although, I have to admit that I spent a long time in the shower rinsing my hair. This wasn't because it was difficult to rinse out. Rather, it was because my hair felt so soft that I could not believe that it was "just my hair" that I was feeling! Also, I purposely did not detangle my hair before applying the mixture to my wet hair. I wanted to see if it really did loosen tangles as well as I'd read. Unbelievably, it did!

I applied a conditioner after completely rinsing the clay out and applied an oil to seal in moisture. That's it! I did my regular two strand twists with ease and ended up with soft, shiny, well defined curls. Awesome product!

I believe I will be making this a part of my regular routine for hair washing! I have found a winner!

I applied the clay in sections, combed through and twisted

The next day, fully dried. No products added, beyond what I did after washing. Loved the definition

Bentonite Clay for Hair

2012-11-05T18:17:00.000-08:00

About three weeks ago, I had a blast when two of my closest friends came over to visit. One was visiting from Honduras, (Hey Anika!) and the other from around the corner in Raleigh. (Hey Genelle!) All three of us, along with our husbands, laughing, talking and eating...a lot. Among many things, one of the subjects that we bonded over was hair. Genelle, who is my hair inspiration from that wedding that I mentioned in my hair story, has been natural for more than 10 years. Anika, who lives in La Ceiba, Honduras, went natural about 2 years ago.

One of the things that came up was bentonite clay. I have heard of it for years, but never thought of trying it. Anika was raving about it. But, mud in my hair?!? Well, it turns out that bentonite clay is great as a shampoo and conditioning mask. Plus, it has many other health benefits. And, it's cheap! I checked Vitacost.com and iherb.com. Both sold a very moderate amount for under ten dollars.

What is bentonite clay?

Bentonite clay is a literal clay that can be found all over the world, but the largest deposits lie in North America and the Italian mountains. The clay has a negative ionic charge which makes it attractive like a magnet to things that have a positive charge, like heavy metals, toxins, harmful bacterias and pathogens. This amazing substance has been used for years. It contains important minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium, etc, which are important for hair growth and skin rejuvenation. Because of it's porous nature, when added to liquids such as apple cider vinegar or aloe vera juice, and then applied to the skin or hair it draws out the impurities and any build up. It works just like a sponge.

How do you use Bentonite clay for a hair mask?

Here are a couple of recipes via revitaliseyourhealth.com. These can be adjusted according to your hair length.

Also, here is a link Naptural85's video tutorial for using a Bentonite clay hair wash. She uses Terressentials Hair Wash. I bought my clay before I watched her video. But, I'm sure the application is the same.

Conditioning Treatment #1

• 6 tablespoons Bentonite clay
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Mix Bentonite and 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar together until you reach a smooth creamy consistency, similar to yogurt. Add more vinegar if needed to achieve required consistency. Apply to scalp and hair ensuring to coat thoroughly. Leave treatment in for around 30 minutes. Do not allow the clay to set.

Rinse out thoroughly using cold water. Rinse hair again using 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. Apply leave-in conditioner and style.

*You can replace apple cider vinegar with alternative liquid ingredients such as coconut milk or any herbal concoction of your choice

Conditioning Treatment #2 • 1 part Bentonite clay

• 2 parts water
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons yogurt

Firstly, mix together Bentonite and water until you achieve a creamy consistency. Apply thoroughly to either wet or dry hair, whatever your preference. Cover with plastic wrap or a shower cap and leave in for around 20 minutes. Shower as normal, with the cap left on. Remove cap towards the end and rinse thoroughly. Apply conditioner as per normal, 2 applications are recommended. Once completed, detangle hair with a wide tooth comb and apply a leave-in conditioner.

So, I just ordered my jar this morning from Vitacost.com. I'm so excited to try it. I'll update the pictures and results! Have you ever used bentonite clay? Please let me know your experiences. Leave them in the comment box.

How Does Hair Grow?

2012-10-15T13:46:00.002-07:00

While it's very easy to compare your hair growth to another person's, it's never really productive. However, I think it is a good idea to know in general how hair grows and some facts about how to take care of it.

This is a good chart to get a look at why our hair does what it does and how to keep it healthy! (The shrinkage thing is amazing..75%?!? Really??

via Naturallycurly.com

How Long Must I Deep Condition?

2012-10-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

When I first started to research how to take care of my hair, I noticed a lot of women saying that they were spending hours deep conditioning their hair. Like, a whole day dedicated to their hair. A little daunting for me. I have a very busy schedule . I don't have time a day to dedicate to my hair. Some ladies would deep condition overnight. It still seemed like it was excessive.

I do deep condition my hair. Once a month. (More often if I feel like my hair needs it.) But, I usually spend fraction of that time doing it. I have discovered that what works well for others may or may not work well for me. So, I usually just wash my hair and then deep condition according to product directions. Usually between 15 and 30 minutes. Or...if I'm multitasking, I apply a deep conditioner then a plastic cap and do laundry, housework, read, cook, whatever I have to get done. I also do the same thing with warmed olive oil. Easy peasy!

If your hair is:

Chemically treated
Severely damaged and dry
Bleached
Relaxed

Any of these conditions, you may need to deep condition more often to restore your hair.

I wrote previously that I am allergic to the olive oil,and coconut oil. Still true. So I try to keep it on the ends, and off of my skin. But, I'm still looking for a really good deep conditioner. Any suggestions?

Also, how do you deep condition your hair? What products do you recommend?

Diana Ross, My Way

2012-09-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

So, this took a long time! As mentioned in my previous post I have been sick. Like really bad sinus infection. Finally, I'm getting to the point where I'm not taking anything. So, a couple of days ago, I washed my hair, deep conditioned it, let it air dry, and then straightened it. I love the fact that Diana's hair went from being slick and shorter, to huge and iconic. Like, to the point that no one would even think of her without the GINORMOUS hair that she rocks with ease.

I did this on flat ironed hair. ( with some frizz added in) However, I liked the bigness that the frizz gave me. I did figure out that I ~~need~~ would like to get some layers added into my hair to get it more shape and style options.

All in all, I love my big "Diana" hair. Plus, the bigger the hair, the bigger the drama! Everything just looks.....extra!

Tell me what you think. I can take it....

Remington Keratin Therapy 1-In. Hair Straightener (Google Affiliate Ad)

Preparing for the cooler weather

2012-09-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

via Vintage Kitty

So it's that time of year! Lower temps, changing out closets for warmer clothes. For me, right now, well...allergies, a sinus infection and some other weird stomach thing that is going around. (Which is why I am late on my Diana Ross remix, head too heavy to wash, let alone comb!) Thing just crept up on me.) I am practically sleep typing right now. Still, I've been thinking of what I could share with you all.

For most, this is the time when many start thinking of how to keep their curly hair moisturized. There is less humidity in the air, which can be better for some hairstyles. I am less afraid of straightening my hair in the winter time. Less frizz, more definition to the curls, etc.... But, less water in the air can mean drier hair and skin. What do you do to conserve moisture? I tend to wear my hair "up" most days to protect the ends from the air. Since I am soooooo exhausted, I thought I'd share some information I found very interesting. Hopefully, I'll be back to my regularly scheduled program very soon

via Del Sandeen, About.com Guide

1. Beware Breakage

If you experience breakage in one or two specific areas of your hair, it might have nothing to do with how you care for it, but what you wear on it. Wool hats and scarves can rub against and pull on delicate black hair, breaking it off at the nape of your neck (where the scarf might sit) or at the crown of your head. You need a hat and scarf if you live in a snowy climate, but the trick is wearing them the right way to avoid damage. Try sewing a satin or silk lining inside your wool cap. If you're not crafty enough to do this, ask a friend or family member who is. Before wrapping that wool scarf around your neck, make sure your hair is out of the way, either through a protective style or already secured beneath your properly lined hat.

2. Deep Condition More Often

Heated homes and work spaces can dry out your hair, so combat this dryness with extra deep conditioning. Look for humectant products which hold in moisture and use a good deep conditioner about once a week.

3. Wet Less Often

It's no fun leaving the house on a frosty morning with wet or damp hair. If you live in a freezing climate, your hair may actually freeze and break if you step outside with wet hair. Even if a wash n' go was your go-to style in the spring and summer, winter requires less shampooing and daily wetting. You should still shampoo and condition about once a week, but since you aren't swimming often, you don't need to wet and/or conditioner wash as much.

4. Use Heat Even Less

Indoor heating is going to suck some of the moisture from your hair. Don't help it along with flat irons, blow dryers and curling irons. Winter is an ideal season to practice setting techniques like wet sets (completely dry before you head out the door), pin curls and wraps, none of which require heat to style your hair.

5. Rethink Protective Styling

While wearing protective styles is always a good idea for keeping hair ends up and out of the way, they work especially well in winter for protecting your hair from harsh weather. Snow, sleet and heat won't be able to damage your hair as much when you keep it styled in buns, topknots, braids, twists and French rolls.

So, how do you keep your hair moisturized during the drier winter months?

Diana Ross!

2012-08-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

Love her hair!

I knew from the beginning of this blog that I wanted to try to imitate Miss. Ross' look. The time periods I love most for this icon are the 70's and 80's. There are so many beautiful looks to from which to choose. Of course, I love the huge hair she rocked in the eighties. But, here lately I have been on a scarf and hat obsession, so that's why I chose the seventies. In the movie Mahogany, she has some very chic looks that anyone could rock right now. I know that some of these looks can be found at like, Modcloth or even Etsy. I even went to a local vintage shop to see what I can find. (Super cute!) Plus, I can rock my new lashes! Bonus!

My "Blogger" Eyes!

2012-08-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

When I told my friend/ adopted sister, Hadney Alexander (who is a very talented hair artist, ) that I was starting a blog, she was super excited. One of the things she told me is that I ~~need~~ must have false eyelashes. I have never used them! Remember, librarian style. Unbelievably, I found some lashes from E.L.F. at the Dollar Tree. Nice! Well, I decided I'd tried to apply them myself. All thumbs! So, I checked out YouTube for a video. (You can find anything on YouTube!)

I found this video by Adriana Lima aka stillGLAMORUS. Super. Easy. Plus, I love that her favorite lashes cost a $1.99! (Red Cherry lashes). You can even find them at Walmart!

So these are going to be my "blogger" eyes, lol. Per Hadney, whenever I post a picture, I'll have my lashes on.

Ok, so I need to practice, lol. ( Looka that right eye! LOL!!!) But, I have to admit, the lashes do make your eyes pop! When you get them right, that is. So, practice makes perfect.

The Today Show...Naturally

2012-08-28T15:14:00.001-07:00

I was watching The Today Show yesterday when I saw something very interesting. A segment came on that gave instructions on making homemade beauty products with ingredients that are already found in the home. The guest covered hairspray, hair gel, and a deep conditioner made with all natural ingredients like oranges and lemons! What was the most interesting to me was the homemade gel recipe. I've seen the You Tube videos for the flax seed gel, but the straining process really grosses me out. It's just looks so slimy! This one uses unflavored gelatin, is still all natural, and there's no straining involved. Plus, you can do these recipes in minutes. Here's the link to the video.

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/48800558

Just in case you aren't so easily grossed out, (like I am, lol) here is a video of how to make flax seed gel from Naptural85 one of my favorite You Tubers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=aWaH8GIbLrM

I know a lot of ladies have their homemade recipes for hair care. Lemme hear what you do!

My Dorothy, way overdue

2012-08-18T11:19:00.001-07:00

These past two weeks have been very busy. Sick family, (thankfully home now and recovering very well) work, sisters' weekend, parent's anniversary...Whew! Still no trip to get my hooded dryer fixed. In between time, I did at least get to deep condition and wash my hair. I usually dry hair in twists for at least a day and a half.

Side note: I'm still in the market for a good deep conditioner. I have super sensitive skin. It reacts to everything. This time I used a conditioner I found at TJ Maxx called Electric C- I hairdressing. (The ingredients looked good and it was 4 bucks, why not try it? ) I was deep conditioning using extra virgin olive oil. But, I'm allergic to it. Not just that it causes my skin to break out, I get an itchy scabby skin. Very weird. Same thing with coconut oil and Shea butter. But, I loved how my hair looked ands felt afterward. I was trying to use the oils without it touching my skin, not easy. So, I have to find something else. I'm also trying Moroccan oil too, so we'll see how it goes! Any suggestions?

Anywho...I roller set damp almost dry twists on sponge rollers overnight. Hoping to get the Dorothy style I have been searching for. This is what I got. I liked it. I don't think necessarily it looks so much like what I was trying to do. I think, I need a few more layers around my face. ( See those cute curls that frame her face) I don't have that, lol. My hair is pretty much the same length all the way around. All in all, I like how my hair looked. Got tons of compliments. I can add this style to my arsenal of styles. ( Now I just need some lashes and my gorgeous sister Erin to do my make up. Make me fabulous gal!)

Pressed Out Summer Hair

2012-08-14T12:52:00.002-07:00

Because of my disastrous hair dryer accident a couple of weeks ago, I decided to straighten my hair. That actually sounds strange, but I really wanted to do a length check and trim the ends. I have never straightened my hair in the summer. Plus, I really don't like to blow dry my hair with a hand dryer and then use heat again to straighten it. I'm a little paranoid. So, I twisted my hair first and let it dry in twists. The next day, I got out my curling iron and curled/ straightened my hair. I didn't get my hair "bone straight", and that was OK for me. As you can see from the pictures, my hair did not stay curled for long. The high humidity! But, I did get to trim my hair, and do a length check. I'm about bra strap length in the back and I don't know... mid chest (lol) in the front? (That's not a term I've seen anywhere!) These are just a couple of the styles I did. I really kind of love a bun. So, most of the time I lived in a big top knot, side bun, and low chignon. The bun just traveled from one end of my head to the other, lol.

I love that I live close enough to the beach that I can just jump in! (No matter what I am wearing)

As you can see, I just flat twisted the sides and attached with a hair band in the back

This was half up half down. Hadn't even left the house. Already fizzed out. But, I love the bigness!

I know a lot of ladies straighten their hair, even in the summer. What do you all do the preserve your stye and hard work?

Great Expectations

2012-08-06T18:45:00.002-07:00

I sooooo wanted to do my version of the Dorothy Dandridge hairstyles that I posted previously. I hate sitting under the dryer. But, my intentions were to roller set my hair on medium rollers.
I got up early on last Sunday to set my hair. I deep conditioned for an hour with a quarter cup of warmed olive oil the night before (We'll have to discuss this later) After that I rinsed, washed and conditioned my hair. All of this I did late in the evening. Since I know that my hair NEVER dries overnight, I just divided my hair into four section, pinned them into four knots, tied my hair in a satin scarf, and went to bed. The next day was so promising! So full of expectations!
Fast forward to the next morning. I got up early.I set my on my rollers. I was ready to get some reading done while I sat under the dryer....And then this happened!

Look at this mess! This is the hood of the dryer on the chair...

While the base of the dryer is on the counter top...
Oh, I haven't given up on my dryer. I will be visiting the local Wal-mart to get my hands on some Krazy Glue. I figure if it can handle this:

It can handle my dyer.

So obviously, I had to change my plans. For that day I had to put my hair up. The Audrey Hepburn remix worked really well on the fly. I did a twist out to stretch my hair and later (the next day) flat ironed it straight. I've been wearing it since then. My next post will show what I did to, somewhat preserve all of my hard work.

Hmmm....

2012-07-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmm.....My morning coffee....

I usually do my hair at night or on the weekends. The night before I did a twist out on stretched out hair. I liked how it turned out. I almost always wear my hair up. Very librarian-like, according to my sisters. But, I thought I'd set it free today.

This is me trying to figure out when I can fit in my next set for the Dorothy Dandridge remix. I think Sunday's a good day....

Who's next?

2012-07-24T06:10:00.001-07:00

So, I did my version of Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's updo. That was my first remixed hairstyle. Who should be my next? I wanted to try someone from every decade. So, I have a few that I thought would be interesting to try. I haven't decided which one I would like to try. This is who I've come up with so far from the sixties:

Dorothy Dandridge:

There were sooooo many beautiful pictures of this lady to choose from. Isn't she gorgeous and just so sassy at the same time? Plus, super talented. So much so, that Halle Berry played her in a movie, and won an Emmy Award. You have to watch Carmen Jones. (Not the Hip Hopera. Sorry Beyonce. You're still fabulous!)

And..that's it! Try as I might, I'm having a hard time thinking of anybody else. Everyone I think of was from the fifties or earlier! Or the seventies, lol! Whose style do you admire from the 60's?

Let me know if you can think of someone who's style you admire. Let me know if you're out there....Bueller?.. Bueller?

Remixed-Audrey Hepburn 50's Icon Style Icon,

2012-07-20T06:32:00.001-07:00

OK, so this is my version of a style inspired by Audrey Hepburn. This particular style was inspired by the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. It's an updo that is good for special occasions. (I didn't have a tiara handy. ) But, it can also be dressed down for any occasion using a scarf or a headband. I re-twisted my hair last night with Cantu Shea Leave-In Conditioner. I find that it helps to keep the curls defined pretty well. (Even in this crazy humidity) It was pretty easy. It's harder to see all of the details of the stle from my pictures.

So, Audrey...

Sherry!
...Whatcha think

It was pretty quick and easy to do. I just parted my hair into three horizontal sections, twisted the back section up into a small, tight roll and looped the ends into a pin curl, toward the middle of my head. The middle section, I kind of twisted, just to get it out of the way.
The front section (or bangs) was secured with a couple bobby pins to create a hump in the front. (The sides of the middle section, I parted off, and kept separated to use later.) The ends of that front section, I added to the middle section and made a high ponytail, using a hair elastic. The ends of the ponytail are tucked into a high bun. The two sections that I separated, were pulled toward the back and the ends tucked under the bun, and pinned into place. Repeat the same steps on the other section.
That's pretty much it.
I saw a video on You Tube by a talented young lady named Koi. This is her channel and the video that she posted. It's almost the same thing that I did. http://www.youtube.com/user/StrawberryKoiVintage. I didn't have to tease my hair to make it look fuller. I just separated the twists into smaller twists to add volume. No comb was necessary. The only styling tools I used were my hands, one hair band and some hair pins.
The hairstyle looked cute with twists. But, I think it would also work very well on a roller set, too.

Let me know what you think. How would you remix this style?

My Hair Story

2012-07-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

I have been natural for about 3 years and 8 months. My decision to stop relaxing was a gradual one. As a matter of fact, a very good friend of mine (strongly, lol) suggested that I go natural about 12 years ago. I thought she was nuts! What! Give up my relaxer?!? I lived in Virginia Beach at the time, the humidity made me think, " Nope, not gonna happen". Plus, I had been relaxing my I hair since I was 17.
I was natural, as we all call it now, for most of my childhood. There was a brief stint with a Jeri curl, when I was 11. (Worlds of Curls, to be exact, ugh.) A trip to the neighborhood pool, without a swimming cap, quickly put an end to that episode. After that, I didn't relax my hair until my last year of high school. But, I had to keep up that routine of hair care. (I even relaxed my own hair if my funds were low. I know, I know.) But, I battled with my hair to keep it both straight and sleek. As a matter of fact, I referred to getting a retouch as "beating my hair into submission". And I hated to do it! However, my hair never seemed to grow past my shoulders.

I always liked big curly hair. But, I didn't think that I could wear my hair that way, not without a relaxer, and a long drawn out roller set process. Plus, I hadn't really seen my hair in years!

After my wedding in May 2008, I started seriously thinking about going natural. I live in coastal North Carolina, an area where there are very few African American women. Crazy humidity. Not one hair salon for our hair. So, the only professional hair care I could get was a trim. The clincher was when I went to the wedding of a friend of mine, who went natural about 10 years earlier. Her hair was long, shiny, full and gorgeous! I made my decision right then. I wanted healthy long, full, beautiful hair too, lol! My last relaxer was in December of 2008. I just stopped relaxing, and gradually trimmed my hair of the relaxed ends. But, I was flat ironing my hair. Still, almost year and a half later, I didn't know how to take care of my natural hair. And summer was coming again...

That's when I discovered YouTube. I didn't realize, at the time, that you can find all kinds of info on natural haircare on the Internet. I. Was. Hooked. I followed Kimmaytube, Rustic Beauty, Naptural85, and Curlynikki; the list goes on.

Finally, I got tired of fighting through the two textures and cut off the relaxed ends after a year and a half. So, two years later, what I have now is a the combination of patience, lots of research, trial and error. No magic potion.

I didn't always get positive reactions. And that was fine. But, I got more encouragement than I ever imagined. My husband loves my hair. Now, I don't try to make my hair bend to my will, lol. I work with it.

In the end, I don't feel any extra flyness or fabulousness because of my natural hair. I just feel like this is more like...me. And I love that!

Right after my last relaxer

A day at the beach..200% humidity!

Twist out updo--Signature look for me.

Let's Get Started

2012-07-10T19:27:00.001-07:00

I LOVE old movies! My mother always says that I should have been born in another decade. I love how there were stories without lots of violence and profanity, etc.. But, what I really love looking at in these movies are the clothes that the characters wore! It wasn't really until recently that I thought; "I wonder if I could achieve some of these looks on my natural hair?"

So, for my first posts, I thought that I would find a few fashion icons from the 50's, 60's, 70's; until today. I'm going to post a picture, then come back with my version of the hairstyle. (We'll see how that turns out. :-*) I'm gonna try to be prompt about it y'all. My husband's my official hair photographer, and I'm technology challenged..so..uh..yeah.

So here's my first style icon: Audrey Hepburn

Love. Her! Hands down, one of my favorite actresses to watch is Audrey Hepburn. Although she had help, her style was so classic, elegant and lady like. If you haven't seen Roman Holiday, Funny Face, Sabrina, Wait Until Dark , and Breakfast At Tiffany's, take a look. All great movie classics, and feasts for the eyes. This is a very simple style, but so cute!

I'll check in with my version in s couple of days! Let me know what other styles you'd like to remix. (And your favorite Audrey movie)

Who should be my 60's icon?