Life is art and Art is life

2016-01-02T21:41:00.000-08:00

All measurement can be altered to your liking. Have a little fun and make it your own.

Bottom

Top Flap

Mid Section

Zipper

D loop

new hair

2012-09-04T12:26:00.001-07:00

My new favorite protective hairstyle...Violet Girl by FreeTress which is a Draw String Ponytail

My best No-comb braid-out ever.

2012-08-28T18:35:00.000-07:00

I recently cut 2 1/2 to 3 inches off my hair. It totally sucks but I couldn't stand looking at my ends anymore. They were pretty bad. I don't want anymore set backs this year. So I've been revamping my regimen and changing up my styling methods. I want full waist length by January 1213. The last time I used a comb was in April and you know what...I don't miss it at all. Here is the video on how I achieved my best braid-out ever.

Painting again

2012-07-21T22:54:00.001-07:00

I haven't painted in a really long time. It feels good to pick up the paint brush and get to splashing. I'm recording this so it should make for a decent video. I haven't painted in so long I feel rusty. Oh well, practice makes perfect. I feel bad that I took such a long break from my painting.

A painter is who I am and who I will always be.

Life is art and Art is life.

2012-07-16T22:59:00.001-07:00

F.A.Q. on heat

How does heat damaged hair look and feel?

1.The natural curly pattern is either loosen or completely gone.

2.The hair has a hard time holding water, hence forth becoming brittle or even breaking.

3. hair appears limp or lifeless

Why does heat affect people differently?

It’s all up to genetics. Some people hair strand contains more Disulfide bonds then others. These bonds produce more cysteine molecules that aid in stronger hair that can withstand the roughest combing, the strongest wind and a really hot flat iron.

Should I stay away from heat?

I recommend that all naturals stay away from heat but If you like heat, here are some reason why you might want to monitor and control your heat usage.

1. If you have thin hair be careful with heat.

2. If you have fine hair strands your chances of heat damage is drastically higher than others

3. If you suffer from really dry hair your chances of heat damage is drastically higher than others

4. If you have porous hair your chances of heat damage is drastically higher than others

5. If you like the curliness of your hair be careful with heat.

What are some ways to avoid heat damage?

1. Collect your shedded hair to experiment on, to find the perfect temperature for your curls

2. Use Heat protectant

3. Don't use heat tools higher than 410 degrees.

4. Lessen the amount of times you use your heat tools a year

What Should I do if I have heat damage?

1. Increase the amount you deep condition.

2. increase protein treatments.

3. Increase the amount of times you moisturize your hair daily

4. wear more protective styles

5. If you don't like the new texture, simply cut it off and start a new

understanding heat on hair.

2012-07-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Introduction

Let’s talk about heat and hair. A lot of naturals have a love& hate relationship with heat. I think this is because we lack understanding of the effects of heat on our precious curls. Well it’s time to go into some of the facts and clarify some of the myths…

So, where should we start.

What is heat?short version

In the dictionary it is described as the state in which the body perceived as having or generating a relatively high degree of warmth. Heat is energy transferred from one system to another by thermal interaction.

What is hair?short version

Hair is a network of amino acids chains that are joined together by side bonds There are three types of side bonds: salt bonds, hydrogen bonds, and disulfide bonds.

Today we are going to talk about two of these bonds, the Hydrogen and Disulfide bond.

The hydrogen bond appears more frequently throughout the hair-strand and is connected to various parts of proteins and contribute to the overall stability of the hair. This bond is weak and can easily be broken or altered by heat and moisture.

The Disulfide bond is fewer, but is much stronger and is directly contributed to the structure of the strand, meaning the curliness.

How does heat affect the hair?short version

Since hydrogen bonds is weak, light application of heat can change or cause deformities throughout the hair structure. The proteins are relatively rigid, so several hydrogen bonds must be broken simultaneously for a protein to change its overall shape. Heating of the hair cause reconstruction of the hydrogen bonds within a single hair strand and as it cools new bonds form.
For example curling the hair with a heated curling wand.
If you where to create a curl and proceed to hold the curl for 5 to 10 seconds as it cools down. Then proceed to curl another section of hair but release allowing gravity to pull it down and cool in that position.The first curl created will hold its shape longer then the one that was not allowed to hold it curl until the section completely cooled down. The bonds had not set themselves in place, causing the second curled section to drop the shape of the curl.

Duly noted, this newly created bond is weak and the smallest presence of moisture can cause the structure to return to its previous state. Increasing the kinetic energy within the atoms increases vibration or interactions between the atoms involved in the hydrogen bond. More energy or increase in temperature increase changes or deformation of hair strand. The structure becomes disrupted and denaturation happens. High temperatures or prolonged use of heat can affect the hydrogen Bond in a way that can destroy or permantly alters the disulfide bond that creates the curly pattern in your hair. Most people know it as heat damage.

That's all flocks..... for now. I just wanted to give my reader a head up to the future video coming soon...Yahhhh!!!!!! I'm really excited about this one. Other questions that will be answered and discussed in this video will be listed below. If you have any questions or topics dealing with heat fill free to leave below and I will add them to the video.

Thank you and see you soon....

How does heat damaged hair look and act?

Why should I stay away from heat or lower my use of heat?

What to do if you have heat damage?

I love this fake pony

2012-06-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

I love this thing. I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier... It was so easy to make. There are countless styles to use it for, like in the pictures below.

Here is how I made it.

Reason why I Love:

1. It adds length, when I needed it
2. It adds fullness for pompadour, french twist and buns.
3. I can wash my hair or deep condition without worrying about drying time. If you have ever had waist length and longer braids or twist, they take forever to dry.

4. Redoing my braids is less complicated. Instead of taking out the extension and throwing them away...only to add more hair, which could add up in price over the span of the year. I just simply and quickly braid back up my own hair and when I want length, I'll just slap that sucker in.

Braided Bangs and High Bun

It's in the bun.

Braided bangs with side braid

added to the bottom of the braid

Fishtail Braid

added to the bottom of the fishtail braid

Pompadour

it's in the Pompadour

I made it to waist length

2012-06-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

I'm now grazing waist and I couldn't be happier. Can't you see the glow....lol.

For those who don't know I have been on my hair journey for 3 years...and for some reason reaching waist length has been one of the most difficult goals to reach on my hair journey. I kept making mistakes that caused major setbacks.
I decided to invest a little more time in my hair-care. What helps you reach MBL may not help you reach WL. What I had done personally to reach MBL was preventing me from reaching my goal.

Waist Length Check

Side Length Check

I need 2 to 3 more inches to be full waist length. So I hope that I can reach that by the end of December.

I had many set-backs in reaching waist length, and I'm going to share them with you. I hope that you can learn from my mistakes and reach your goals faster than I had.

1. I trimmed my hair too often

(for the last two years I would trim my hair 4 to 3 times a years. Which doesn't really makes since, If you want to see real growth. Your hair on average grows 5 to 6 inches a year and if you cut off four inches your growth will feel slower. So I stopped the bad habit. So far this year. Iv'e trimmed my hair twice and both times I cut a half an inch off. In all, I have only lost an inch due to trimming. The next trim will be a full inch in December. )

2. Detangling to roughly

(I have always regarded myself as a person with soft hands. I tell people to treat your hair like lace but I was ripping my hair out at the same time...lol... lesson learned . February, I took my mini braids out and flat-ironed my hair. I was determined to enjoy my hair and its length. I was blow-drying and combing my hair right out of my head. I knew I had to do something but I didn't know what. I got on YouTube and searched for no comb methods and finger detangling. I remembered I used to do that in the past but hadn't done so in a while and boy did it make a change.)

3. Heating training

( I have learned that blow-drying my hair every-week is a "heck no!"After my first flat iron in February, in the consecutive weeks, I simply blow-dried my hair. My hair got so dry and brittle after the process. Never again! ;-)

I blowdryed my hair for my first wedding anniversity and that will be the last time I use heat until December. I don't want to have anymore set backs this year and i'll be on a complete lock down. I will continue to use heat after I reach full waist length. I've concluded that its best to heat train my hair every two months with a flat iron.

4. Not enough protective styling

(Wearing my hair in braids is the best protective style for me. I get so much growth.

Braid-outs, twist-outs or even blow-outs get so tangled and stuck on stuff.

I have even shut my hair in the door of my car. It hurt so bad ughhhhh....

I just rather be safer than sorry and keep my hair in braids until I reached full waist length )

June2012

May 2011

5. Dying Twice

(Last year I dyed my hair twice in the span of two weeks. Didn't keep up with my protein treatments, which was a big no-no. I know now that my hair needs protein, and whenever I don't do my treatments, I'll see tons of breakage. )

6. Trying to new things

( The curly girl method was a nightmare of tangles and knots. It didn't work well, so I modified it to my liking. I tried to use sulfate free shampoo but haven't lately. I also stopped using any tools to detangle my hair I only use my hands. It has added a lot of time to the detangling process but I dont think I would of been able to reach waist length if I hadn't picked this up. Third, I try to use hair care products that are silicon free.)

I love this combination of products. It's been working wonders for my hair. For the last two months I've used this combo and its keeping my hair soft and pliable, and allows for more knots to slip-out.

well that's it. I hope this helps you.
My Hair Regimen:

I wash my hair with an Organix shampoo once a week. Usually on (Sundays)

I co-wash 6-5 days of the week with whatever conditioner is at hands reach (Monday through Saturday)

moisturize hair once a day.

once a week I deep condition my hair (I don't have a special day I just do it whenever.)

___________________Heat training portion___________________

Every two months, I apply some form of heat to my hair.

I perfer the flatiron but if I don't have much time I will just use the blow-drier.

I don't go more then a week with my hair straight or blow-dried, I am too physically active.

After a heat session I always deep condition for a minimum of 30 minutes then co-wash my hair. I never shampoo my hair. After I co-wash, I then air-dry until my hair is 80 to 90 percent dry, and then use my blow-dryer until my hair is 100% dry and fairly straight...

I also put my hair in braids until the next heat session.

(Regimen is then repeated.)

Latest Sewing Projects

2012-06-19T17:38:00.001-07:00

Pool Cabana 1

Pool Cabana 2

Pool Cabana 3

Bathroom

Man... I love my job. I thank God I have opportunities to bless other with my skills...

2012-04-16T14:00:00.004-07:00

It has been a whole month since, I did my last braid-out and I’m really loving how it came out today…

I did something a little different from the normal braid-out. After I took out all of the braids, I proceed to put two ponytails in. Then band all the way to the ends, over night. It gave me a bra strap length braid-out, which I normally can’t get unless I use heat. So this is a great replacement method for blow drying and flat ironing.
Even though I am heat training, It doesn't mean I use heat all the time. There are times where I take breaks. This method is one of my new favorite tricks for length.

I'm a cooking machine

2012-04-14T16:57:00.001-07:00

For dinner I went for an asain theme. It was really good.

The cream cheese wongtong were really easy to make. I just goggled it. Before I could finish plating my dish, hubby was eating them.

I had organic brown rice instead of white. I was trying to balance out this unhealthy meal...lol. I don't think it worked.

The sauce was just a mixture of both bottles I didn't measure ....next time I will.

Now for the veggies I had a cup and a half for all of them.

Onions

Carrots

Green and red bell peppers.

Lastly I breaded and fried 2 blocks of firm tofu.

spring nail art hot off the press

2012-04-12T13:35:00.001-07:00

nail care

2012-03-30T21:35:00.001-07:00

nail art of the week

I haven't been taking care of my nails. They keep breaking and peeling. Nail care is just like hair care. You have to be consistent. So I'm getting back on the nail care band wagon.

My nail care routine is really simple. First I cut and shape them as desired (I like square tips). If one of my nails break, I don't cut them all short, to match the broken one. I just shape the short ones and slightly shorten the longer ones for a more even look.

Second, I moisturized my nails and cuticles with a random oil mixture. The mixture is whatever in my oil collection at the time...

After leaving on for 15 minutes, I rinse it off with warm water and let it air dry. Once my nails are dry, then I paint as desired.

Going back to the braids until June

2012-03-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

The braids are back

I flat-ironed my hair in Febuary on the 6th to be more exact. It came out nice but after nine days the game was over and I had to wash it. I just can't go to long without washing my hair. Going nine days was a miracle

As some might know my hair was around 16 inches on the longest point of my strands. Its grown a little bit since that video in January. I mentioned recently in a video, how I noticed a lot of naturals don't know how to have fun with their hair. I understand our hair is fragile and easy to break but that doesn't mean we can't do anything to our hair. I dyed my hair and all of a sudden its the end of the world or if I straighten it. I'm going to be bald. Ok, I don't know everything and that is for dang sure. I would say, I don't know anything and that I feel like a newb at this hair care stuff.... but I'm not going to live in fear everyday that my hair Is going to fall out or break off. I guess the fear has been inbreed In our culture. To the textured culture hair is our beauty. If you have beautiful hair than your one step closer to the ideal women.

When I first got into hair care I didn't know that being a natural came with all this baggage and Compartmentalization. If your wounder what that means it is an unconscious psychological defense mechanism used to avoid cognitive dissonance, or the mental discomfort and anxiety caused by a person having conflicting values, cognitions, emotions, beliefs, etc. within themselves. Compartmentalization allows these conflicting ideas to co-exist by inhibiting direct or explicit acknowledgement and interaction between separate compartmentalized self states. This is the best way I can explain naturals.

list of naturals:

1.Those who use only natural products

2.Those who use only ph balanced water to clean their hair and raw organic products to moisturize

3. Those who use synthetic hair care products (petroleum, cones, sulphates and ETC..)

4. Those who dye their hair

5. Those who use heat and those who don't

6. Those who comb and brush their hair to those who choose to dread.

The list could go on.

There is all this division and stress that is created from something that is supposed to be a symbol of uniqueness, freedom and beauty. I guess it just wishful thinking when I say. Being natural is being who you are to the best of your ability.

"RANT OVER"

So while my hair was out of braids for the Month and a half,I wore buns everyday. Similar to the ones below. It was really fun coming up with different bun styles. During this time, it was just easier to bun my hair than to do braid-outs. The only issue I had was the fact that I couldn't wash my hair as often. I had to make a decision. Wash my hair more often or deal with a itchy scalp.

So you know I slapped those braids right back in my hair. It seems like braids is the best style for me and I just love them for the versatility they give me. I can wash them as often as I like.

Life doesn't get any better than this, clean hair and scalp. In the above pictures is my curly pattern after multiple heat sessions. I have tons and tons of waves and it looks like I have a Jerry curl...lol.

Patching up those holes

2012-03-07T21:39:00.002-08:00

I threw away a lot of cute clothes, because I couldn't figure out how to patch clothes. With a little time and practice, I came up with this simple technique. This technique can be done on most items of clothing. Here below I show you how with a jacket.

Hope this post makes your favorite jeans wearable. So you can finally and quickly fix those pants, that are torn in all the wrong place....

Silk Elements Kera Minerals Smoothing Deep Conditoner product review

2012-03-04T22:26:00.007-08:00

My Thoughts

Silk Elements Kera Minerals Smoothing Deep Conditioner is formulated with Seriseal Complex. Ok, so Seriseal is supposed to be that new nano technology. Where they make the particles small enough to fit in the hair cuticles. It's not that new. I think they got their idea from another company but.... any who. All they do is finely grind and mix Sercin Silk Protein with hair keratin to produce a glue like material, that is to result in strong and shinier hair. They say with prolonged use my hair will become strong and softer. It is step three in a new BKT like product, but you can buy the deep conditioner separate from the kit. I bought it on sale at Sally's for $ 4.99 .

after deep conditioning for a hour.

It says to leave it on for only 5 minutes but I left it on for 30 the first time and a whole hour the second time. Both times it made my hair feel really soft. It was kind-ah freaky. The first use I got a softer feel, but with no real strength. The second time my hair felt like it had more strength. The smell is very unique, I like it.
So I would rate this product * * * * *

pony

bun the pony

twisted my braids around the bun.

Ingrediant

WATER ,CETEARYL ALCOHOL ,HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN PG-PROPYL SILAN ,QUATERNIUM-91 ,HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN PG-PROPYL S ,"Cropeptide W" ,hydrolyzed wheat protein ,hydrolyzed wheat starch ,HYDROLYZED KERATIN ,DI-PPG-2 MYRETH-10 ADIPATE ,CETRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE ,BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE ,POLYQUATERNIUM-7 ,SERICIN ,CETYL ALCOHOL ,GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE ,CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE ,BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE ,SACCHAROMYCES/ZINC FERMENT ,SACCHAROMYCES/COPPER FERMENT ,SACCHAROMYCES/MAGNESIUM FERMENT ,SACCHAROMYCES/IRON FERMENT ,SACCHAROMYCES/SILICON FERMENT ,PROPYLENE GLYCOL ,SODIUM CHLORIDE ,BUTYLENE GLYCOL ,C10-40 ISOALKYLAMIDOPROPYLETHYLDIMONIUM ,FRAGRANCE ,DISODIUM EDTA ,PHENOXYETHANOL ,CAPRYLYL GLYCOL ,ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN ,HEXYLENE GLYCOL ,LIMONENE ,LINALOOL

Got a small chest and butt....Hollla!

2012-02-25T21:52:00.001-08:00

Finally there are bras and panties that are sexy and flirty for the small chested no butt girls like me. I going to be real with ya'll. I wasn't really blessed on top or in the back. I lift weights so I can look like I have some curves. Ravijour has cute stuff like this below. I'm going to order these bad boys. Hubby wont know what to do with himself. It sad but I don't own any regular bra. I only have workout bras. It just ended up that way. I workout a lot, so workout bras became the priority.

Now if these 80 pound models can look like they got boobs then you know this bra is banging....

check out them out

http://www.ravijour.com/?#/style/

http://fashionwalker.com/ravijour/index2.php

they really cute ones run around 4000 -6000 yen... which equals around $40- 60 give or take...

and don't worry the website should be able to be translated to English if you use chrome...

Being cheap is fun...

2012-02-24T19:43:00.001-08:00

Hey you guys. Hubby is one of the cheapest people I know. If its not a deal he's not going to move. So when he saved up two coupons to Papa John's pizza he jumped at the opportunity. He was able to get any two large Pizzas and a 2 litter of Sierra Mist for only $4.03. I was like what is this real.

we love you Big Papa

hubby is about to be a fatty

Don't touch my pizza

Now I got to find away to burn all this extra calories off...elliptical here I come.

Hide those scissor

2012-02-23T22:59:00.002-08:00

Ok, I have been in LOVE.... with my scissors for two years now and its obvious that I'm lacking the length. I have good length right now but I could of been waist last year. The main reason is because I'm suffering from "scissor-happy-syndrome"

It's a really serious problem. I see a few split ends and a couple uneven strands...and I must cut. It stems from YouTube....lol. I know----I know, from the beginning of my journey. I would watch all these videos of people who had long hair tell me that they cut their hair 4 to 5 times a year. So, my thoughts were, I want long hair like yours. I will do that tooooooooo! The thing is, it doesn't make sense to cut your hair that much. Unless your trying to maintain your length. So, lets calculate. If you cut you hair 4 times a year and you cut an inch off each time. You will hardly see any growth. This is because the average speed hair can grow is between 5 to 6 inches a year. That would equal up to around 1 to 2 inches of retained length a year. I was living a lie these last two years. Nooooooooooo....... So I went back to YouTube with a new resolve and a little more smarts. What I pretty much heard ... now was across the board. From Asain to African American; they would only trim or cut their hair once a year. Now this was while they were growing their hair long. Once they got to the length they desired. The long hair Divas cut it more frequently.

I have no idea why this simple concept didn't slap me in the face years ago. So I have hidden my hair scissor. No seriously I did and now I can't find them... I've been looking for them, for two weeks now. I'm about to just buy another pair. ANY WHO! My major goal is to wear only protective styles like this one

and only cut my hair once this year. Don't get me wrong, I will still be practicing my search and destroy methods. Split ends are no joke. That's why I have be looking for those blasted scissor. The last time I got a trim was in November. So we will see whats poppin in November 2012...

The highs and lows of thin hair or balding...

2012-02-11T20:32:00.000-08:00

Day 5

I just wanted to finish up my straight hair for 6 day. I forgot to take a pictures of the finish product of these braids but I did a braid-out. which turned out very sexy... and lasted all day. Again I was able to braid my bang to each side of my hair and pin them in the back with sparkly hair accessory. sorry for not having a picture of it.

Dang my lip look dry omg....

Day 6

Yeah, the final day. I have been trying to hide the flacks, which I know was going to happen. This why I dont go long with-out shampooing or co-washing my hair. Like I have mention before. Befor but never probally went over I wash my hair every other day with sulphate/sulfate free shampoo. I know most naturals would be shocked but I have a really weird scalp and it super sensitive to dirt...and a lot of oil... I never oil my scalp because It make my pores clog on my scalp and I can get infected follicles. which I totally fell like I got on the side of my head. I know EWWWWwwwwww. So what I did was the same thing for day 4 but I put a different conditioner in and I place 9 perm rods in instead of 6. I pinned and twist the hair to one side and BAM!!!

I'm going to return to my favorite hairstyle very soon. I'm going to rock the larger braids for the rest of the year. I rocked the small braids for almost a year. Now that my hair has a little longer, rocking the bigger braids won't look so bad. I'm still trying to reach waist by the end of this year so we will see.

Lets get to some lows. I am also on another journey. I'm trying to thicken up my thin areas on my crown.

here are pictures of this area

with braids

with-out braids

I hate when people praise my hair or me for taking such good care of it. My journey is far from over whether It takes me to a dermatologist or the operation room. I have tried a lot of stuff.....trust. I am good for researching books and exploring every website. If you don't know just check out my educational videos on YouTube. This is the same issue that I have been suffering from the very begin. I just can't wait till I have the money to have the procedure i think will solve my problems. They say It cost around 7 thousand G's and its not cover by insurance. So i'm going to have to really save up. It would be great to no longer feel embarrassed or self-conscious. When you have something that makes you feel inadequant, in your outer appears. It effects your self-esteem. I'm learning to love and live... and if you or a love one is suffering from the same thing. Find support and know that you are beautiful no matter what anyone else says.

Ist about time....

2012-02-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

Watch "Facebook Parenting: For the troubled teen." on YouTube

straight hair journey (so far)

2012-02-09T19:14:00.000-08:00

Day1

So the first day was really fun. I finally got to see my real length which I haven't seen since November. Even in November, I didn't really see because I didn't straighten it perfectly straight. I'm still on this journey for waist so I'm not going to cut my ends until November. I know it sounds crazy but for the last 2 years I have only retained about 4 inches just because I cut my hair to much. So, I'm going to focus most of my attention on my ends so I wont have to trim.

Day2

I'm really tired of have short bangs. I can't really do what I want with them so I'm going to grow them out to my chin... The majority of the time I'm braiding it to the side and pining it down.... it's getting old.

Day3

OK.... totally didn't like this day of hair. It was done with flat twist. I put in 5 flat twist. By the time I took this picture the hair was pretty much flat and dead. My hair looks really dry, which it was I think it was the sweater. So when I got home I re-moisturized.

Day4

When I curl my hair, I never use heat. For a matter of fact, I don't even know how to curl my hair with a curling iron or flat iron. my sister is really good at it though. I just put my favorite oil and conditioner in my hair. I then proceed to put six medium sized perm rods in, over night. My scalp is getting slightly itchy. Which is kind-ah bad cause

I'm loving my hair but I'm going to have to wash it soon... I will see how long I can last.

FEBRUARY 2 years ago

This is how long my curled hair was... crazy the difference in length.

Photo diary

2012-01-16T23:07:00.001-08:00

We are almost done with moving. I have been really busy but am loving every moment. Dreaded my brother hair. Trying out colors i never wear. Bought another glitter. Celebrate new years with family and friends. Visit the cutes new born ever. Lastly move into my new home

unique knot hairstyle

2011-12-29T21:01:00.000-08:00

December issue of Popteen had
some fairly wearable looks .
I really liked the knotted hairstyle on the top right.

It not the same exact style in the
magazine but the style is still elegant

I needed one more bobby pin and the
hairstyle would of been perfect.
So it's dropping on the right side....ughhh!!!

new years nail art design

2011-12-27T21:26:00.000-08:00