Going Napptural

Goodbye!

2014-05-07T22:36:00.002-07:00

Hello all!

I have come to the conclusion that I will no longer post on this blog.
I do not have the time( I haven't posted since December 2013),
nor any new material (I'm out of topics y'all!) to post.

However, I will keep this blog "active" and continue to allow comments, because it documents my journey from the very beginning of my transition, to the two years later when I chopped my relaxer off, to a couple months into my 100% natural phase. I will check back and reply to comments when I see them. My hope is that my previous posts can help someone along their way on their own transitioning.natural hair journey. This does not necessarily mean I will stop making videos. But as for this blog, I will keep it to a transitioning blog, and you will see no more posts here from this point forward.

To those of you who have always checked back for updates and read every single one of my posts: THANK YOU for sticking with me!

It has been one amazing ride!

Signing off forever!

-V

Everything I Believed About Cheap Combs Was a Lie

2013-12-10T00:08:00.001-08:00

Ok, so the title to this post is a bit dramatic. Haha. But, I've always been kind of a comb snob. I've been through countless combs and comb brushes that have flimsy bristles and that generally don't do anything for my hair. Because of this, I adopted the mentality that a cheap Target/Wal-Mart comb would not get the job done and I had to get combs at a higher cost from specialty stores.

Well. I was wrong.

Meet the Goody "Detangle & Dry" value pack.

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

Never would I ever have bought these if I hadn't clumsily forgotten to pack my regular comb in my overnight bag this weekend. This is what I normally use to detangle my hair. It's a comb that I got from Sally Beauty Supply over 8 years ago, and I can't remember the brand or anything else about it. It's super sturdy throughout and gets the tangles out of my hair like a dream.

When I realized I left it at home, I ran out to Target to grab something (anything) to get me through the weekend. That's when I found the Goody value pack mentioned above. I was skeptical because it was super cheap and vent comb brushes have left a sour taste in my mouth before. But,it worked like a charm to detangle my hair in the shower!
Don't get me wrong, it still can't touch my tried and true Sally's Beauty comb, but this was a cheap and functioning alternative. I was able to get a decent twist out out of it! =)
So moral of the story is, don't judge a comb by it's price. Lol! Or the store it comes from.

That's all for now!

Happy Thanksgiving! =)

2013-12-09T20:42:00.001-08:00

I know Christmas is now around the corner, but I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

As for our Thanksgiving hair. My sister in the yellow dress is wearing a braid out, my sister in the black cardigan is wearing a bun with a flat twist, and I am wearing a twist out. =)

Happy Thanksgiving again, and I hope yours was as delicious as mine!

PSA: Do Not Buy From Queen Style Hairs Co.

2013-11-20T18:38:00.002-08:00

It was brought to my attention that this company, Queen Style Hairs Co., (which sells wigs,) was using my photo on their website claiming I was wearing a Brazilian remy Lace Front from their store. I never gave Queen Style Hairs Co. permission to use my photo in any way, shape, or form and especially not for advertising purposes and monetary gain! This made me upset. Not only because they were infringing on my portrait rights, but also because they were clearly lying to consumers! After looking through their other products, it became increasingly clear to me that this company does not use many (if any) authentic photos of their own products, but uses photos of celebrities an normal girls claiming they are wearing this product. Girls will log on to their website and see these images thinking that they are ordering a wig that looks like the one in the photo, when it is NOT! Keep in mind all of these wigs sell for triple digits in American money, and some of them are listed for upwards of $380! This is completely unethical.

I sent the online store owner a private message asking her to remove any and all images of me from anywhere they were used on her site. I also filed a complaint with the host website (alibaba.com) to inform them that one of their vendors was using my images without consent and falsely advertising their product. Alibaba responded to my complaint in a timely fashion and assured me they would remove the content if no counter complaint was filed and no action was taken on the part of Queen Style Hairs Co. However, when I went back to the link where my image was featured, I found that my photo had already been removed, and replaced with a photo of Mae AKA "Natural Chica." I'm 99% sure this photo of Mae is also being used without her permission and this STILL indicates false advertisement of their own product. Sickening.

All this is to say that this company, Queen Style Hairs Co., is completely fraudulent, and I'm sure there are other sites like this out there. "Buyer Beware" whenever ordering online! Do your research! And steer clear of this company!

Bold Gold "Highlights"

2013-11-17T21:47:00.001-08:00

Hi all!

So, I tried another color of cream eye shadow to give myself highlights!

I used Maybelline's Color Tattoo by EyeStudio in "Bold Gold."

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

All I did was scoop some of the eye shadow out of the container,

rub it between my fingers, and pull it through select strands of hair.

I ended up with this pretty caramel color.

I dig it!

I like the blonde and the plum equally.

Can't wait to try more colors using this safe, chemical-free method!

That's all for now! Until next time! =)

Click Here To See My Plum Wine "Highlights"

Surprise Straw Set

2013-11-17T01:09:00.000-08:00

Hi all!

Remember my Halloween Hair?

Well, I took those faux locs out three days after I put them in, and ended up with this:

Love it!

I haven't worn my hair in a straw set in a really, really long time because I'm all about wash-n-gos now.

I still use this same old method to achieve this style! I love how it came out!

That's all for now! Until next time! =]

Halloween 2013

2013-11-15T12:09:00.001-08:00

Hi all!

I know it's a whole new month now, but still, here is an update on how I wore my hair for Halloween. This year, my boyfriend and I decided to return to a themed couples costume. Our mutual love of The Walking Dead tv show prompted us to go as two of its characters: Rick Grimes and Michonne. Two very awesome, very badass individuals.

Rick & Michonne
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

As you can see, Michonne wears locs, which I obviously don't have, but are very essential to portraying her character in costume. I had previously purchased a wig of locs when I was Lil' Jon for Halloween in high school one year, but I had left it at my mom's house and there was no way I'd be able to get it in time for this year's events. So what's a girl to do?

I created faux locs! How, you ask?

I gave myself a straw set! Then I simply removed the straws and left the curls chunked instead of separating them like I normally would. This was the result once I slapped a headscarf on it:

Pow! Faux locs!

Side-by-side with the TV character:

Disclaimer: I do not own the image on the left.

And here is my full ensemble:

Can't forget my boyfriend:

Disclaimer: I do not own the image on the left.

Lastly, two couple shots:

We took our costumes to Zombie Walk Long Beach which is a really fun annual Halloween music & art festival where everyone attends dressed in their Halloween costumes - particularly as zombies! Our costumes definitely were recognized among all those zombie enthusiasts. We had multiple people and groups of people stop us to ask for pictures! Overall fun! Thanks hair, for adding the finishing touch! =)

Curly Nikki Feature

2013-11-14T22:08:00.002-08:00

Well, this is way overdue!

Not sure why I never posted the link to my feature on CurlyNikki.com.

I go into why I went natural in the first place and talk about what my whole transitioning journey was like!

Disclaimer: I do not own the imagery affiliated with curlynikki.com.

Here it is! Just click the link below & enjoy! =)

Vanessa's Curly Nikki Feature

How to Wrap Your Natural Hair at Night

2013-09-03T12:44:00.001-07:00

Quick video below on how I wrap my hair at night so that I can wear the same style in the morning! =]

Hello Naked Hair (TRUE Wash & Go?)

2013-09-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Today, for the first time, I was really digging my hair as soon as I stepped out of the shower! I would consider this my "true" wash and go, though the more defined look is what comes to mind when the term "wash and go" is used. It's kind of a chunky, piece-y fro & you can definitely see my multiple textures!

Check it out:

However, while I like the look, I still haven't grown the balls to do a product-free hairstyle and then walk out the house as is! Plus, it's still super hot in LA lately and wearing my hair down didn't sound too appealing. I still liked it in a high puff though!

Until next time! =)

My Favorite Natural Hair Products (with product reviews)

2013-07-27T16:00:00.003-07:00

Hi all!

"What products do you use?" This is a question I get a lot on my YouTube channel, so I thought I'd make a video to answer it.

In addition, I thought it might be helpful to include a review of these products for anyone interested in why I like them so much. So here goes!

Organix Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

Why I love it: The shampoo smells great and it's silicone-free so it's very gentle on my hair. It lathers really well with a small amount of product, so it lasts long as it does its job. It's amazing because you can really tell a difference between this shampoo and cheaper-quality, harsher shampoos. As for the conditioner..I LOVE it. It has a lot of slip so it's perfect for detangling my hair inside the shower. It also leaves my hair feeling super soft once it's all rinsed out. This conditioner is also a huge difference from conditioners that don't hydrate or moisturize nearly as well. Again, the ingredients here are not harsh and it still does exactly what it's supposed to. The price for both of these is not bad, and as I showed in the video, I can generally find the conditioner in double the size for the same price, which is awesome! In addition, these products are very easy to find. I've gotten them everywhere from Wal-Mart to beauty supply stores, and grocery stores to Target.

Where it could improve: Honestly, I've got nothin'. Haha! If only they could make the bottle even bigger!

Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

Why I love it: Smells sooooo good. Really, I love the way this smells, and I love my hair smelling that way too! After a wash, I rub this into my hair once I'm out of the shower and it keeps my hair really soft throughout the day. I've purposely had days where I leave it out of my routine just to see if it really makes a difference in how soft my hair feels..and it does! The product itself is a thick, creamy consistency, but it's not heavy on the hair at all. I've found that this works well alone even as a sort of setting lotion. If I put some in my hair before I twist/straw set it, this product alone will help the style hold the next day, even without gel. I discovered that on accident once when I ran out of gel and decided to try using it alone! This is another product that's easy to get anywhere. I usually get mine from Wal-Mart. Considering how long the product lasts me, I think the price makes it a very good value.

Where it could improve: It doesn't mix well with everything. When I use it in combination with some gels, it leaves white streaks or clumps in my hair. You need to experiment to find out which products can be used with it without leaving streaks/clumps. Also..you have to be really careful with how much you put in your hair. If you put too much, it will be impossible to blend in and you will have to squeeze it out of your hair.

Kinky Curly Curling Custard

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

Why I love it: I'm so glad I found this stuff. I tried product after product to create the perfect defined curls and this was the CLEAR answer. It's like magic for my curl definition. The consistency is on the thinner side and it feels jelly-like between my fingers. It smells pretty good and goes on easy as there's no struggle to get it to coat my curls. It leaves some crunch after it dries, but I like the crunch...it keeps my curls defined longer. And the longer I wear the wash and go, the less crunchy my hair becomes. I just can't say how much I love this stuff enough. However, there are some downsides:

Where it could improve: This isn't that easy to find. My local Wal-Mart doesn't carry it and neither does my local beauty supply store. The only place I've consistently been able to get it is Target. And in my small hometown, the nearest Target is 20 miles away. Also, the price... is just...yuck. This stuff is a little expensive for my frugal taste. It also doesn't last very long. With all my hair, I can get probably get only 3-5 wash and go uses out of each jar. =/

Dark and Lovely Au Naturale 10-in-1 Styles Gelee

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

Why I love it: This works pretty much the exact same way as the Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC.) Smells good. Leaves a little crunch. Thinner consistency with a jelly-like feel. Curl-defining magic. As I stated in the video, the main difference is the ingredients. The KCCC touts all natural ingredients, while this product includes natural ingredients, but also includes some that are not (like alcohol.) The price of this is great though..almost half the price of the KCCC. I think the ingredient difference might be where the huge difference in price comes from. (This is also comes in a smaller jar, but not by much.)

Where it could improve: It's hard to find, at least for me. I've only found it at a beauty supply store and have yet to see it at your average department store. A con might also be the ingredients if you're a stickler for using all-natural stuff. ...That's not me.

Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

Why I love it: This stuff is awesome for setting my hair in twists or straws to wear a twist out or straw set the following day. It also works great to slick back my hair and edges if I want to wear my hair in a puff or bun. I have not tried using this for a wash and go yet. It doesn't really have a smell and it's a thick gel. The ingredients are hair friendly and if you just look around the internet, you will quickly find this stuff is a favorite among many naturalistas.

Where it could improve: My local Wal-Mart doesn't carry this. Annoying. Other than that, I think this is a good value and have no other complaints.

IC Fantasia Hair Polisher Styling Gel

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

Why I love it: I didn't mention this in the video, but I use it a lot. This works just like the Eco Styler. Really. They're so much alike that I'm not going to write much here. The price of this is also fair and comparable to that of the EcoStyler. I will say that this is easier to find than the Eco Styler...that's the reason I bought this in the first place. I went out to buy EcoStyler and couldn't find it, so I picked this up and was pleasantly surprised by the almost identical results for my hair.

Where it could improve: None! I really like this product. if you ever have a hard time finding EcoStyler, give this a try. =)

Well, that's all for now! I hope this post is helpful to someone out there!
Until next time!

Plum-wine "Highlights!!!"

2013-07-20T15:20:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

As I was browsing through the #naturalhair hashtag on Instagram, I ran across some photos of naturallytash, a girl with gorgeous colored curls. If you've been following my blog, you'll know that colored curls is something I've wanted to play with, but something I've avoided for multiple reasons: high costs of getting it done professionally, maintenance of uncolored roots, commitment to a color for an extended amount of time, and the damage the harsh chemicals can cause to my own natural locks. I toyed with the idea of temporary color, but many of them require that you bleach your hair in order for the lighter colors to show through. So when I learned exactly how naturallytash achieved her gorgeous colors, I was ecstatic!

Her secret is this: she uses eyeshadows and blushes to add temporary color to her hair! Yes, you heard correctly: eyeshadows and blushes. She even coined the term "hairshadowing" to describe her method. I found her on YouTube under the moniker "TashNaturally" and watched her tutorial at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoWF6bDiAwI&list=TLD6RyF4LFDqk

Then I had my boyfriend run out to the store and buy me 2 different cream blush colors.
I used Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush in "Plum Wine."

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

The end result was pretty and subtle purpley highlights throughout my hair:

Day 2:

I am in love!

My mind is going nuts coming up with other colors I want to try: blue tips, blonde highlights and lowlights. I can't wait to keep experimenting. This is exactly the sort of solution I longed for; something easy on the wallet, pleasing to the eye, and non-damaging to my hair! I love that it will come out as soon as I wash it because all I want is to try different things and have fun with color over the summer. =)
Thanks naturallytash!

Until next time! =D

Click Here To See My Bold Gold "Highlights"

Length Check! (2 years, 6 mos. post relaxer)

2013-04-05T10:47:00.003-07:00

Hi all!

VERY QUICK length check/hair growth update!

She's a-growin'!!! =D

Reaches my bra when stretched:

Compare that to the length I had at 18 months post-relaxer (the angle makes it look longer than it was, but it was a little over collar bone length here):

And 23 months post-relaxer (mid-chest length):

Side by side comparisons @23 months vs. 30 months:

Yay! Progress!!!

That's all for now!

Until next time! =)

How I Define My Natural Curls (Wash and Go Routine)

2013-03-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

This is my wash and go routine that has become my new favorite hairstyle!!!

Video tutorial below:

To Dye or not to Dye?

2013-03-10T17:25:00.005-07:00

Hi all!

I've been toying with the idea of coloring my hair in April/May for the summer months. I think it would be a fun change and now is the time to do it since I am just about to finish my credential program and I won't be teaching until fall. So, if I don't like it, or decide on a color like RED, I don't have to worry!

I like blonde, but I photoshopped a blonde/caramel brown fro on my head, and meh...

It's kind of cute, but I think it's also a bit much for my medium-brown skin tone!

So, maybe some highlights instead? My issue then, is that I'll be damaging my hair again. And part of the reason why I stopped getting relaxers was because I wanted to end the cycle of damage. So I'm not to keen on re-introducing harsh chemicals into my regimen.

So what I'm left with are two options I'm considering.

1) Try multiple applications of henna.

(I've done this before and I love the red tint in the sun and subtle reddish-brown hues indoors.)

2) Try Manic Panic's line of vegan Semi-permanent dyes.

(They do not contain ammonia or peroxide like permanent dyes, and they wash out after several shampoos.)

Both options are non-damaging on my hair and don't require the commitment of permanent color.

The downside here, is I won't get my blonde/highlights, but I can still play with warm reds, jet blacks and deep purples. And that's all I really want: something different and fun for summer!

So in the within the next two months, my hair may be in for another change!!

Until next time! =)

Disclaimer: I do not own this image.

PS. Here's the lovely lady who's hair I borrowed. ;)

Wash and Go Success!!

2013-02-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

Wooh! Feeling much more comfortable wearing my hair in a wash and go!

This was done with Kinky Curly's Curling Custard over Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In.

I'm loving the results..soo excited! =)

I'm also really happy with the length of my hair currently and can't wait for it to keep growing!

Anyway, that's all for now!

Until next time! =)

Finally!

2013-01-14T15:42:00.000-08:00

Hi all!

Wooh! I finally got the twist-out to work for me!

If you recall, two years ago, at the very start of my transition, twist-outs (and braid-outs) were fail after fail on my hair. I would try them and they would unravel at the bottom and leave me with straggly ends or without being able to keep a twist in place at all.

Not anymore!

Now that I'm 100% natural, my twists stay put all night and don't unravel.

I only used two products that my boyfriend so graciously gave me for Christmas to finally try out! He knows I am dying to try new products, but don't want to blow the money that every product junkie does. So this was much appreciated! The Kinky-Curly Knot Today and Spiral Spritz(plus water of course!) were the only things I used to twist my wet hair.

My first successful twists are below:

This process took 20-30 minutes, half the time of my usual straw sets.

Then, I slept in them and let them air-dry overnight.

This was the result of untwisting and fluffing with almond oil in the morning

(which also took no longer than 20 minutes) :

My second attempt was successful as well. I actually like this look better because it is even fluffier. I think this is due to the fact that I used almond oil to separate the twists for the first attempt, and dry fingers to separate the twists for this second attempt:

Overall, I LOVE it! This is so much simpler and quicker than the straw set. I think I have found my new back-up style for nights that I don't want to spend the longer time to do a straw set (40 minutes to twist and untwist vs. 2 hours to straw set and remove/untwist straws.) I wish I had tried this out way sooner..like as soon as I cut off my relaxed ends! Don't get me wrong, I still adore straw sets. But this is a great alternative and I'm sooo glad I finally gave it a shot!

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Have a great week ahead!
Until next time! =]

Update: Christmas Straw Set, NYE Wash & Go

2013-01-13T21:11:00.001-08:00

Hi all!

This is an update on the styles I wore for the holidays.

Christmas Eve and Day were a usual straw set. I spent the holiday on the East Coast where I wore the same straw set for 6 days. Even through that...my hair held up fine in the wind, rain and snow.

Christmas Eve, 5th day hair:

Christmas Day, 6th day hair:

Click Here For My Straw Set Tutorial

For New Year's Eve, because I was much too lazy to do a straw set on December 30th, I woke up on December 31st not exactly sure what to do with my hair. I wanted something cute, and I did NOT want to wear my hair in a puff like I usually do when I don't wear my hair down and out. So I opted to wash my hair and try some finger coils.

It took me about 2 hours in the bathroom with leave in conditioner and gel to define my curls with my fingers and work with my stubborn multiple-textures. Then I didn't like the result and threw it into a high puff anyway. I was extremely frustrated that I had spent all that time on a look I didn't even end up liking and that I resorted to an everyday look (a puff) that I did not want to wear on a holiday.

So about 10 minutes after I put my hair in a puff, I went back to the bathroom, sprayed my hair with water and just combed it out. My hair already had leave-in conditioner and gel in it, so I ended up with a mostly-defined wash and go that only took 10 minutes. Yeeesh, after all that! Ever have hair days like this? Lol.

I added a black sequined headband and gold earrings to complete this NYE look:

I hope your new year is off to a great start!

Until next time! =]

11 Ways to Have Festive Christmas Hair!

2012-12-13T21:07:00.002-08:00

Hi all!

This is more of a fun, general hair post.

Since Christmas is around the corner, I thought I'd share this Buzzfeed article I came across a few months ago about "Festive Christmas Hair." They happened to feature me in it! I am #7!

(This photo is back from when my hair was relaxed.)

Enjoy!

11 Ways To Have Festive Christmas Hair

Would I ever walk out of my house with any of these styles? No.

But nevertheless, this post is silly and fun!

I'm Straight!

2012-09-16T16:05:00.001-07:00

This will be a very quick, short post!

I had my first hair straightening session since I cut off the last of the relaxer!

I think it looks a little dry and the ends don't look the best because I haven't gone into a salon to get it professionally trimmed yet. But I'm loving the length I get to play with for a few days! =)

I hope everyone has had a good weekend!

Finger Coils & Braidouts & Straw Sets, Oh My! (Pic Heavy)

2012-08-24T22:29:00.002-07:00

Hi all!

Since I cut the rest of my relaxer off and finally became 100% natural, I've been experimenting with different methods and looks. This post is a quick breakdown of the ones I've tested so far.

Finger Coils

This was my first attempt at finger coils on my whole head. The method I used was to literally separate my hair and coil individual pieces of it. The only products used are the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Treatment and water. I think next time I'll try using gel too. Here's how it turned out:

(Excuse the Cantu Leave-in at the top right! Gotta blend that in better next time!)

VERDICT: I really like the curl definition! My main gripe about this style is that when it dries, there is mucho shrinkage. Shrinkage isn't really my enemy, but if I'm going for a stretched look, this isn't the way until my hair gets a little longer.

Braidout

This was my first braidout ever in which I didn't have to use something to secure the ends of my braids!!! Remember when I used to have the problem of imminent unraveling!? Now I just braid my hair up and finger coil the ends and they stay put! Wooh! Just like this:

And this was the result:

Compared to how it would turn out at the very beginning of my transitioning journey:

Maaaaaajor volume difference!!
VERDICT: I like the braidout, but it's not quite my favorite look. I really haven't mastered it yet and need more practice before I'll feel comfortable wearing it out like this. Plus, there are still a few straight ends scattered about and I feel like they're very visible because, just like when I was all relaxed, the ends don't curl.

Straw Set

Of course. The go-to. It doesn't look much different from what it looked like before I cut the ends off:

BUT, it looks VERY different from the straw sets at the beginning of my journey as well:

Yet ANOTHER dramatic change. Uh..i think you know the verdict for this one! I love it so much more now! It looks so......."lifeless," is the word that comes to mind, in that last pic! Since I've been straw setting throughout my whole transition and this major volume change was gradual, it's still a shock to see it side-by-side every time! Lol.

Click Here For My Straw Set Tutorial

Speaking of straw-sets, I am definitely going to be doing a giveaway of a "Straw Set Kit" for one lucky blog reader. If you're transitioning, this is perfect for you. I plan to give away all of the products I used (and am still using) to create a straw set during my own long-term transition. I need to make a video to let my YouTube subscribers in on the details and once that happens, I'll post them here as well. But, I wanted to give my loyal American readers a heads-up before then! (I am soooooo sorry to exclude international readers, but I don't have the resources to ship overseas at the moment. It's a possibility for future giveaways though!) So, be on the look out for that!

Aaaand..speaking of YouTube, this post has inspired me to do a video montage of side-by-side comparisons of hairstyles just like this. I think that's what's next on my YT video to-do list!

Well, that's all for now!

Thank you for reading and have GREAT weekend!

P.S. You can follow me on Instagram for more hair photos! My username is "diimpulz."
If you choose to follow, let me know that you found me through my blog! =)

My First Wash-N-Go

2012-08-13T12:39:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

Yuck, it's Monday. -_-

Today was the first day since I cut my remaining relaxed ends off that I wore my hair out fresh from the shower! I guess it's not a 100% true Wash-n-Go (WNG) because I do have some Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In conditioning treatment and some IC Fantasia gel as well, and thennnn..I slapped on a headband. But it's as true of a WNG in a sense that I didn't set my hair last night to wear it out today. (That's something I can't wait to experiment with though!!)

Anyway..all I can say is..shrinkage is a muthaaaa! LOL!

Here's what my hair looked like today as I wore it out:

It's a cute, short little fro....that makes me feel like my hair grows very slow! lol.

BUT, here's what I actually have to show for these past 2 years:

HUGE difference!!! It's cetainly past my shoulders and almost down to my bra.

Again- shrinkage is a mutha! Ha! And patience is a virtue..one that I'll need for my curls to get this long unstretched.

Here's a couple close-ups of my natural pattern:

I definitely still want to play with different methods to really make my curls pop with definition.

That's all for now!

Have a great week!

Guess What I Did?! =D

2012-08-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

23 months into my long-term transition, I cut my remaining relaxed ends off!!!

Eek! I needed to cut about two inches in most places and less than an inch in some spots. I really planned on waiting until September so it would be a full 24 months, but the reason I just got fed up and cut it was because I wanted to be able to throw it in a ponytail right out of the shower (which is what I did today.) I was never able to do that during my transition because my relaxed ends were always straight and brittle, unlike the rest of my hair, after I washed it. Now, they're curly like the rest of it! I'm sure there are still a few sparse straight ends in there somewhere and I'll have to keep maintenance trimming until they're all gone, but I am soooo excited to start experimenting with new products and techniques to get my curls popping! =)

Here's some photos of what it looked like right after I cut the ends off:

And here's today's high ponytail/puff:

Thanks to everyone who stops by to read my updates! I hope I've been able to help, inspire or at least entertain someone out there through this long transition! =) My relaxed-to-natural journey has now ended and so begins my hair-growth journey!

That's all for now!
Have a great weekend!

Growth Update: 22 Months Post-Relaxer

2012-07-17T13:59:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

I haven't updated in a while mostly because there hasn't been a whole lot of *new* going on with my hair.

I'm doing my usual straw sets and caring for my hair the same way I have been the past year or so and I really haven't experimented with any others styles or methods lately. So that's the reason for the lack of recent posts. But, it's been 22 months since my last relaxer! I'm SO CLOSE to my initial two-year goal!

I've really been trying to play with my hair right after I wash it to get more familiar with my natural

un-manipulated (is that a word? lol!) texture.

Here's what it looks like:

I really need to trim some more off of the left side (pictured below) because it seems that I've left more straight ends on that side than the left. But, I do like the shape of my hair right now.

Here's the right side. As I said, here you can hardly even see the straight pieces, whereas on the left they're much more visible:

Here's the front view so you can see the lopsided shape I'm talking about. This is EASILY taken care of though! Just need to trim off more of the straight stuff. I'm happy regardless because my hair has definitely grown a lot! =)

And here's what my straw set looks like at 21 months...

...and 22 months!

It gets bigger (and healthier) by the day. =)

Well, that's all for now!

Have a great week and THANK YOU for checking in! =)

Click Here For My Straw Set Tutorial

Curly Fro-hawk

2012-04-10T22:27:00.003-07:00

Hi all!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter!!!

I experimented with my hair this weekend and finally tried my hand at a mohawk on a 5-day old straw set.

All I used were bobby pins and a mirror! lol. Then I dressed it up with a flower.

I like how it turned out, but it's definitely something I would wear out and not on an average school day.

Results:

A few other angles:

That's all for now!

A BIG THANK YOU to my readers! =)

Thanks for keeping up with me on my journey.