Just Happy and Nappy

Impulse decision

2013-05-08T20:18:00.001-07:00

So big news first. My husband and I are expecting! The little peanut will be making his/her debut in October. Around the date of my last post is when I found out… needless to say life has been a whirlwind since then.

I was extremely tired during my first trimester (luckily that’s the only real symptom I experienced) and had a hard time keeping up with my hair. So I turned to a weave and that helped me out a lot. I figured it was better to take care of a weave properly, rather than risk damage to my natural hair by not giving it the time it needed.

So on Sunday after yoga, I had the bright idea to take my weave out because I missed my natural hair. My hair has always grown pretty fast and I always heard that your hair grows like crazy you are pregnant due to hormones and the prenatal vitamins, but I was not ready for the amount of hair I discovered. I was overwhelmed with the amount of hair on my head and I am at a loss for what to do with it. I feel like I am starting my natural journey all over again.

I carefully removed my weave and washed/conditioned my hair like usual. I made an impulse purchase at Target and purchased Jane Carter’s Hair NourishingCream and used it as a heat protectant before I blew out my hair. I am very happy with the product and highly recommend it, despite the price tag (~$17). My hair was soft and had a nice shine when I was done. Later that night, I curled my hair on grey and purple flexi rods using some Natural Oasis hair oil.

The next morning I had big, fluffy, textured curls. Now what do I do? Besides a bun and two strand twists, I am fresh out of ideas. I know I should leave the heat alone and style my hair wet, but did I mention I was pregnant and tired?

Day 1

Day 2

1 Week Curlformer Review + New Style Obsession

2013-01-14T22:39:00.004-08:00

I thought that I would include a slideshow of my week of looks, courtesy of my Curlformers set. I have to admit that I was bummed on day 2 and 3 when the curls started to not look as "crisp" but Curlformers are awesome for stretching! I rocked a big, fluffy, twist out for days. And working out didn't ruin my hair. I usually end up with terrible shrinkage after a rough workout, but the 3 strand twist out really saved my hair. And again, I want to reiterate that I didn't use any heat on my hair.

So once my curls started to poof, my thought was to rely on a 2 strand twist out. But as I was perusing YouTube, I discovered the 3 strand twist *gasp* - my new style obsession. It really sounds more complicated than it is. You are literally twisting your hair, like a rope, with 3 strands. You just have to be careful not to braid your hair. Check out a great tutorial from MsKelabug:

MsKelabug's video is great and her hair is beautiful!

Yesterday, I planned on doing a 3 strand twist on wet hair, but I'm "chasing [the style] dragon" this week and decided to use Curlformers again. I've really gotten the technique down and my second attempt took only 45 minutes. I would love to hear about your Curlformer storiy!

Elisa shared an Instagram photo with you

2013-01-13T07:01:00.001-08:00

Hi there,

Elisa just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

"Bangs + Poof = airport 'do #teamnatural "

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Elisa shared an Instagram photo with you

2013-01-11T17:43:00.001-08:00

Hi there,

Elisa just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

"Stay tuned for a post about my lastest style obsession... 3 strand twists. #teamnatural "

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Just happy and nappy

2013-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

When I first started blogging about my transitioning journey, I never (1) thought that I would be able to go completely natural, (2) that I would still be natural almost 6 years later, and (3) that I would have fallen so in love with natural hair.

It is clear that a lot of things have changed in my life. I went to business school, moved across the country, and most importantly, I married the absolute love of my life. But my hair journey continues to changed as well. I am no longer trying to go "from dyed and fried to happy and nappy". Instead, I am "just happy and nappy".

Now some people have a problem with the word "nappy". My hair is tightly curled or coiled. I love my hair. So yup, I am just happy and nappy.

I hope you will continue to follow me as I continue on my ever evolving hair and life journey. Here's to a new year, new beginnings, and all things happy and nappy!

Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbell

BluePrint Juice Cleanse

2013-01-09T21:27:00.001-08:00

BluePrint Cleanses. Renovation Level.

Hello lovelies! So a few days ago, I completed 3 days of the Renovation level of the BluePrint cleanse (BPC). I've tried to do a fruit and veggie cleanse in the past and I ended up not being able to handle it (you can search on my blog for "cleanse" to check out some old posts). I was determined to get through just 3 days of a juice cleanse as a way to purge my system of my holiday "fun" and to get myself back on track. Before my wedding, I was in the zone and I just want to get back to that state of mind. What I wasn't determined about, was the price.

A good quality juice cleanse isn't cheap. I spent weeks researching different companies across the country, only to find they were all around the same price. I lucked up on a Rue La La "sale" and got the BPC 3 day cleanse for $155 + $30 for shipping, roughly making each juice $10. The juices are also sold at Whole Foods for about the same price, but I liked the idea of having super fresh juice, sent to me all at once (it is shipped overnight via FedEx). And plus, there is no guarantee that Whole Foods will have each juice that you want.

So I am not going to try and sell you on the benefits of juicing. I'm only going to share my experience. I think so many people are curious about how I did it because I am not shy about my love of food and if I don't eat every 2 hours, I am cranky, mean, bitchy... etc. Which is probably why my husband wasn't too thrilled about me doing this. So here goes. I tried to keep a diary to detail when I drank each juice and how I was feeling, as well as the weight loss I experienced. Just a warning, it is clear that I am an over-sharer, so if poop grosses you out, it is mentioned below. You have been warned :).

Juices:

Green Juice - Kale, Apple, Ginger, Romaine, Spinach, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley, Lemon
PAM (my second favorite) - Pineapple, Apple, Mint
Green Juice - Kale, Apple, Ginger, Romaine, Spinach, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley, Lemon
Spicy Lemonade - Lemon, Cayenne, Agave
CAB - Beet, Apple, Carrot, Lemon, Ginger
Cashew Milk (my favorite) - Cashew, Vanilla, Cinnamin, Agave

Day 1

Until 10:30 a.m. - As instructed by BPC, I snacked on apple slices, water, and herbal tea until my juices arrived.

10:30 a.m. - #1. Has a very strong parsley smell but the actual taste isn't overwhelmingly parsley.

12 p.m. - #2. Very refreshing and not overly sweet.

2 p.m. - #3. Note to self. Don't let the green juice get too warm...

4:43 p.m. - I'm feeling kind of light headed. Why did i do this again? Drank some water as I was leaving the office to hold me over a bit longer.

5:15 p.m. - #4. This is good, but I wish it was spicier.

7 p.m. - I am not a huge fan of this one but it is much better than I thought.

9 p.m. - LOVE the cashew milk but it does get oddly lumpy towards the end.

Day 2

***Down 3 pounds***

7 a.m. - Drank warm water with lemon and I'm actually not hungry, but I am kind of gassy (sorry TMI, you were warned). No poo this morning so I am drink some laxative tea (I really like Smooth Move).

8:49 a.m. - #1

11:11 a.m. - #2

1:25 p.m. - #3

3:30 p.m. - Time for some laxative tea.

5:00 p.m. - #4. Starting to feel light headed so I guess it was time for a juice.

8:00 p.m. - #5. Sigh. Still feeling light headed a bit.

10 p.m. - #6. Thank God! Time for cashew milk!

Midnight - Bedtime

Day 3

***Down 1.4 pounds***

7 a.m. - Chamomile with lemon and then some warm water with lemon. Still no poo. WTF!

9 a.m. - #1

10:09 a.m. - Poo! Finally!

11: 15 a.m. - #2

2:00 p.m. - #3

4:30 p.m. - #4. Now I seem to have the hang of this...

7:14 p.m. - #5

10 p.m. - #6. Wow. I really did it. I will miss the cashew milk though.

When I woke up the next day, I was down another pound, so I lost a total of ~5 pounds and I was back to my pre-holiday weight. Woohoo!

Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbell

Curlformers: Attempt #1

2013-01-05T15:10:00.001-08:00

Right now I am in the phase of falling in love with my natural hair all over again. I was uber lazy this week and rocked a giant poof. So I think it is time to try some new things especially since my hair is a lot longer.

Enter Curlformers.

I've been very skeptical about these curly things and the price tag ($70ish) didn't help either. But I said, f*** it and bought the styling kit from Sally's.

At first I was skeptical and didn't think that I was going to end up with smooth curls because of my tight curl pattern. But things turned out well!

Cleanse

Pre-Poo: Avocado Oil. 20 minutes. No heat.
Cleanse: SheaMoisture Thickening Shampoo. Since I am not longer taking my Alopecia medicine, my dermatologist prescribed an oil treatment for my scalp. For that reason, I am experimenting using a gentle shampoo to make sure my scalp is properly cleansed vs. cowashing.
Deep condition: SheaMoisture Anti-Breakage Masque + Avocado Oil + Olive Oil. 30 minutes with a plastic cap and towel on my head. No heat.

Style

Detangle: Kinky Curly Knot Today
Hold: Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz
Installed Curlformers. This took me a little over an hour simply because I didn't know what I was doing. When I was done, I went to bed and when I woke up my hair was completely dry. I did sleep in a scarf too in order to keep the front Curlformers off of my face. It wasn't horrible sleeping in these things, but I didn't get solid sleep.

Finished Product

My hair is SUPER soft and the curls are pretty damn smooth. My ends on some curls are so so but I think it is because I used too much hair for that particular curl. I must say that I am impressed. Now I did miss a few small pieces here and there, but for my first time, I think I did a pretty good job. Here are a few tips:

Twist you hair at the root so you can easily hook it and pull through the Curlformer.
Use small sections. I found that if I used too much hair for a curl, it was hard to pull through the Curlformer.
Resist the temptation to mess with your curls a lot. I wish I had just left them as is and separated them in a few days.

This may be my new 'do for the next few weeks!

Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbell

Out with the old and in with the...natural?

2012-12-28T16:39:00.000-08:00

Hello. My name is Elisa and I am/was hooked on weaves!

For my wedding, I really wanted to have long beautiful curls. I should have known I would get hooked and keep weaving it up for months. Well last night I was finally sick of it and took it out *snip snip* (well actually my mom did).

Messy poof. Post weave removal. Pre wash.

My hair is in pretty good shape. It's not dry at all. My ends look great because I just got a trim before my last install. But I freaked when I got all the weave was out. Why, you ask? You know the saying "out of sight, out of mind"? Well this saying truly applies to my alopecia situation. I stopped taking my medicine back in September (that is another blog post in itself) and figured that letting my hair rest would hopefully keep my hair loss to a minimum. I don't know if my alopecia has worsened or if I am in shock because I haven't really seen my hair since June, but I am definitely feeling some kind of way. I do have some edge breakage but I am pretty confident that I can get them back on track.

All in all, I really missed my natural hair and I am so happy to see it. I have been lusting after beautiful 'fros, twists, and poofs and now I can have all of that again.

Cleanser: Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner
Deep Conditioner: Wen Sweet Almond Mint Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment
Detangler: Kinky Curly Knot Today
Twisting Agent: Organic Root Stimulator Lock & Twist Gel

Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbell

I need to stop being lazy...

2012-06-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

So finally my life is starting to get back to normal. I finished my MBA, moved to California, started my new job, and the wedding planning is wrapping up! In the midst of all this transitioning, I did whatever it took to minimize the time it took to do my hair. Yup, basically, I got lazy. Real lazy. So today I decided to not cut corners and to mix up a great deep conditioner.

And with that. I rediscovered my love for shea and avocado oil. After I washed my hair with SheaMoisture Yucca & Aloe shampoo, I coated my hair in a mixture of shea and avocado oil and massaged it in. Then, I applied the SheaMoisture Yucca & Aloe deep conditioner and slapped a plastic cap on my head. I accidentally fell asleep with a towel on my head (don't ask) and when I woke up, my hair was super soft. I easily detangled my hair with the mixture in it. After that I used a heat protectant and used the blow dryer to dry my hair. I changed up my two strand twist method and if it comes out cute, I will post again tomorrow with pictures and instructions.

So I am making a promise to myself (putting it in writing so I will actually be held accountable) to really start doing my hair like I used to!

Follow me on Instagram: @kabobbell

Bio-Oil - Is it the real deal?

2012-03-22T05:41:00.000-07:00

Well hello Lovelies!

My wedding is quickly approaching (less than 6 months away) and I am trying maintain my skin care regimen. I have been doing very well with my face regimen (I haven't had a breakout in more than 6 months) but now I am starting to pay more attention to my overall body.

A few years ago, I was about 50 pounds heavier (thankfully I have managed to lose that weight and keep it off). I put on the weight pretty quickly, so I have stretch marks. Luckily for me, my stretch marks aren't terribly noticeable, but I want to be as close to perfect as possible when I am lounging in sun with my new hubby on our honeymoon in Mo'orea! With that said, I have heard about Bio-Oil for years, but never bought it. Mainly because of the price tag - about $14 for a 2 ounce bottle. But after doing some reviews, I decided to bite the bullet. Many black women have seen success with Bio-Oil, so I figured I would give it a shot.

The key with this product seems to be consistency. The instructions on the bottle say to use twice a day for at least 3 months... woah. I will definitely report back in 3 months to see if I have started to see any results.

It has been TOO long...

2011-12-23T10:27:00.003-08:00

Hi Lovelies! It has been WAY too long. After my summer internship in New York City, I moved back to Ithaca for my last year at Cornell. School mixed with wedding planning and recruiting made for a hectic life. So for the most part, I have been rockin' my natural hair. I did however get a weave for our engagement pictures. Here is one for your viewing pleasure :).

Photo by Love Life Images, Inc.

So let's talk about the weave. My weave was beautiful, but I decided to leave some of my real hair out to make it look more natural. I have never done this before. I usually get full weaves, not exposing any of my natural hair. Here is a close up (you know I can't resist showing off my handsome fiancé). This was a hasty decision because I didn't think about the maintenance for keeping my hair straight, especially since I have a trainer 3 times a week. When my hair was freshly straightened, it blended very well with the weave (this time I used wavy Indian Remy human hair). But as the days went on it was harder and harder to blend. I ended up putting heat on my hair 3 times a week and using that much heat on my hair concerned me. Since I rarely straighten my hair, I didn't want the heat to alter my curl pattern for that one section that I left out. I was very good about using heat protecting products before any heat touched my hair, but that still didn't make me feel comfortable.

Another issue I had to deal with was due to my hair thinning due to Alopecia. Making sure my scalp wasn't exposed was difficult and really left me feeling insecure. I did discover "hair shadow" which is basically eyeshadow for your scalp. The stuff is great. I was able to put this on my scalp to give the appearance of hair; this stuff was a lifesaver.

Well I managed to leave my weave in only for one month. I'm going to Brazil (yay) for 10 days and the thought of having to deal with the heat, humidity and my hair, was too much to think about. I have noticed that my curls are more relaxed in that one spot that I was flat ironing on a regular basis.

I'm glad to have my natural hair back. I'm still following my same wash, condition, and styling routine, but I am finding that I experiment with how I wear my twist outs a lot more. Here are some pics of my latest 'do. Also, I put a clear rinse in my hair a few months ago. I'm sure it has rinsed by now, but I'm loving my hair color (most of the henna has grown out).

Reasonably priced products alert! Check out Pooka.

2011-08-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies. As my internship ends, reality has set in and I'm slowly realizing that I am once again a broke student (only one more year of this, praise the Lord).

Pooka Pure and Simple is an all natural, handmade beautycare line that was conceived after the creator, Dawn Fitch, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She decided to take a natural approach to hair and skincare by making her own products. I was even happier when I realized that the products are *gasp* affordable!

I had the pleasure of trying the Shea & Olive Hair Butter (4 ounces) and the Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment (4 ounces). Following are the ingredients for each:

Shea & Olive Hair Butter - Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Beeswax, Rosemary Oil, Lavender Oil, Fragrance
Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment - Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Rosemary Oil, Lemon Oil, Lavender Oil, Peppermint Oil, Fragrance, Lavender Buds, Rosemary Leaf, Lemon Peel

The first thing I noticed, about both products, was the amazing smell. Both products smell so crisp and fresh and made me even more eager to try them. The great thing about the Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment, is that it comes with a dropper, which makes scalp application a breeze! The Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment claims to stimulate growth which I think is something that should be evaluated on a case by case basis. As you all know, my hair doesn't "love" oils, so I've been using the Nectar Hair Oil & Treatment for nightly scalp massages. This product also doubles as a hot oil treatment, which I have yet to try.

I've been using the Shea & Olive Hair Butter once or twice a week as a moisturizer for my twists. What is great about this product is that it doubles as a body moisturizer as well.

I can easily see both products becoming staples in my hair routine. Give them a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.

ORS Lock & Twist Gel for Two-Strand Twists

2011-08-02T16:17:00.002-07:00

Every so often, I like to switch up my products and routine. I have been craving a product that would leave my twists defined but not crunchy and this has been my quest for the summer! I remembered that I had a container of ORS (Organic Root Stimulator Lock) and Twist Gel, that I had used only once before and blogged about it. When I used it, my hair was a lot shorter, so wet sets weren't my friend at the time. But 2 weeks ago, I decided to revisit it. Before I shared the results with you all, I had to make sure they weren't a fluke and I used it again this weekend. Let me tell you....

+ = defined, soft, moisturized twists

These two products may have become my go to for my wet twist outs (at least for a little while). My curls are defined but not crunchy, soft, and moisturized. Here's the kicker... my hair looked great for an entire week. Simply retwisting and refreshing with some Moroccan Oil resulted in some beautiful styles throughout the week!

So the million dollar question is, what are the ingredients in the ORS Lock & Twist Gel? Well let me tell you, for the most part, I was pleasantly surprised: Water, Coconut Milk, Soybean Oil, PVP, Polyquarternium 37, Propyl Paraben, Methyl Paraben, DMDM Hydantoin, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance, Sucrose. For more info on some of the ingredients, I went to my new favorite website.

PVP - You many want to stay away from this ingredient IF in shampoos and conditioners as it may cause build-up. But in gels, it is okay.
Polyquarternium-37 - You many want to stay away from this ingredient IF in shampoos and conditioners as it may cause build-up. But in gels, it is okay.
Propyl & Methyl Paraben - Some studies (in animals) show that parabens can lead to breast cancer. Some feel very strongly about parabens, so please make sure you are fully educated before making a decision about this product or any other product containing parabens.

I have also figured out a way to combat the shrinkage I experience from wet twisting. After I finish twisting my hair and before I sit under the dryer for a few minutes (I sit under the dryer just long enough to take the wetness out of my twists and I let my twists air dry the rest of the way), I pull my twists taunt, and pin them. This way, they dry while they are stretched out.

My hair hasn't stayed this soft, for this long... maybe ever!

2011-07-14T06:24:00.006-07:00

Lovelies, I have a new discovery! What's my secret weapon, you ask? Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair conditioner. For months, I have been wondering about Dove hair care products, but already had way too many shampoos and conditioners to justify a new purchase. Finally I gave in an purchased the Intensive Repair conditioner anyways.

One Friday I worked from home and decided to try the conditioner as a pre-poo and I left it in for hours. The smell isn't overwhelming and is pleasant, the conditioner feels thick and substaintial (too often non-salon conditioners feel thin and like water), and the ingredients are okay. Here are some of the ingredients and info courtesy of Tightly Curly. I didn't list all of the ingredients, so be sure to research them and make the call for yourself. The ingredients are listed right on the Dove website as well.

The Good
Dimethicone - a silicone that conditions by preventing water loss.
Behentrimonium chloride - Used for detangling and as an anti-static ingredient and emulsifier.
Lactid Acid - Adjusts the pH and acts as a humectant, helping to attract moisture to your hair.
Dipropylene Glycol - Humectant

The Bad
Stearamidopropyl dimethylamine - This is used to keep the product from separating and can be slightly corrosive to hair if not properly neutralized.
Potassium Chloride - Is a cheap thickener.

So after a lengthy pre-poo, I continued on with my normal routine for the most part. But for my deep conditioner, I mixed my go-to Redken Butter Treat with Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Daily Treatment. I followed with the Knot Today leave-in and two-strand twisted with Jane Carter's Twist & Lock cream. Perfection is what I got!!!! My hair has been super soft and moisturized for almost a week. I haven't experienced this in a very long time, if ever.

So think about it, learn about it, and perhaps you will give it a try. I have no complaints and I am sitting here right now pre-pooing with my new staple product!

To Leave-In or Not to Leave-In...

2011-07-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

As you all know, I have an absolute love affair with Redken's Butter Treat. Over the past 4 years of experimenting with every product out there, Butter Treat is by far the best deep conditioner I have found. The instructions state that the conditioner doesn't have to be rinsed out and can be left in as a treatment. I have never done this before, because I wasn't completely convinced that this was the case. So last week I decided to leave it in, instead of rinsing it out. With that said, I didn't use Knot Today, like I normally do. I added a little Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue to each twist because I wanted my twists to maintain definition. I used very little because I didn't want my hair to have the crunchy feeling that I have had before from using the Curly Meringue.

So all was well until I untwisted my hair the next norning. My hair had this "dusty film" to it (sounds gross, doesn't it). I think I used way too much Butter Treat and the excess product dried and created a "dusty film" on my hair. It wasn't a huge deal and wasn't really noticeable, but it was gross at first because I didn't know what was going on. I'm doing my hair again today and I'm going to try using the Butter Treat as a leave-in, but I will definitely use less.

I have also been experimenting with updos, now that my hair is longer. I LOVE wearing my hair up, but it takes so many pins to keep the style secure. I bought a cute, pink flower from a craft fair last weekend in Jersey City and now I am on the hunt for more cute hair accessories. I think updos + hair accessories are my new summer go tos!

Weekly Shampoo, Condition, & Twist Routine

2011-06-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would post a video of my current weekly routine. Right now, this seems to be working for me, but I will keep everyone updated if I start to do something a bit different.

YouTube Chanel: HappyAndNappyElisa

2011-06-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

So I decided to start a YouTube channel. Sometimes I'm in the mood to chat rather than write an actual post. As some of you may know, this isn't my first YouTube appearance (google my name and my videos some come up in the search). Enjoy!

Post Weave Routine

2011-06-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

So first off let me say that my hair was sooooo tangled and I don't think that I managed to get all of the tangles out -- such a nightmare. I think my Alopecia is under control for the most part. I'm still taking my antibiotics. As far as I can tell, no hair is growing back. So below is what I did yesterday after I took my weave out.

Washed with Suave Rosemary + Mint shampoo (shout out to my summer employer).
Quick conditioned with Suave Rosemary + Mint conditioner and started to detangle. I tried to divide my hair into sections and comb out all of the dead hair. It was hard and like I said above, I don't think that I got all of the tangles out.
Mixed my favorite deep conditioner, Redken Butter Treat conditioner, with extra-virgin coconut oil. I let this marinate on my hair for about 5 minutes. I probably should have sat under the dryer, but I didn't have time.
While my hair was still damp, I put a few drops of Moroccan Oil through my hair. This stuff smells AMAZING. Moroccan Oil has been on my wish list for a while now, so I purchased the very small bottle at my local beauty supply store for about $12 and I am not disappointed at all!
I used what little bit that I had left of the Kinky Curly Knot Today to try to finish detangling my hair.
Using no additional product, I did very big 2-strand twists, sealed the ends with more Moroccan Oil, and let my hair air dry.

I'm just amazed at how long my hair is now. I'm sure that I need a good trim. I'm thinking of attempting to do this myself, little by little, as I continue to do my hair each week. It shouldn't be too hard to clip my ends when my hair is twisted. More to come!

Oh how I missed my natural hair!

2011-06-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

Lovelies, your girl is back! I just took my weave out and I can not BELIEVE how much my hair has grown. I still haven't washed my hair (yes -- I know that's funky), but I was pressed to take a picture and post! I will post my "after weave" regimen and pics of my 'do when I'm done.

I'm Coming Home!

2011-06-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

Hi lovelies. I know that I have been MIA for the past month or so, but I am getting back into the swing of things. In the past month, I finished my first year of business school, moved to NYC, and started my internship where I am working on a hair care brand. As you can imagine, I am in heaven.
I'm writing specifically today to share that I am taking the weave out (if I can get it out) this weekend. It's time to unleash the curls and see what I am working with. I'm feeling so anxious, excited, and ready for a change. I've missed my natural hair and have had hair envy walking through the streets of NYC.
Summer in the city calls for rocking my curls. Stay tuned for updates and pictures.

New beginning

2011-04-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

As I am sure you can tell, this blog has been stagnant. But I have so much going on in my life, and no where to write about. So enter my new blog - The Almost Life of Elisa. I am no way abandoning this blog; it's my baby. Just creating another outlet for me to talk about everything going on in my life. So please, follow along and let me know what you think!

Please help us win the Crate & Barrel 2011 Ultimate Wedding Contest!!!

2011-02-07T20:56:00.000-08:00

Lovelies!

My fiancé and I are trying to win a $100,000 wedding of a lifetime from Crate & Barrel's 2011 Ultimate Wedding contest! Please follow this link and help us out by voting! Thank you!

PS - Spread the love... we need all the help we can get!

I Miss Y'all!

2011-01-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Lovelies!

So let's see if I can catch y'all up on what's going on in my life; hair and non-hair related. I'm still rocking the weave and plan to for a while. My hair seems to be growing well and I rather keep it "safe" rather than neglect it and not care for it properly due to my crazy schedule. Lord knows I miss my curls, but I just don't have the time that I used to. My goal is to continue growing my hair in both a natural and healthy way. The wedding is in 2012 and I would love to wear my natural hair either pressed with tracks (something like a Malaysian weave) or big and curly - who knows.

I started the South Beach diet a little under 2 weeks ago and I am seeing great results. Phase 1 has been tough, but I have definitely lost inches around my midsection. I am set to start Phase 2 on Wednesday, but I may do more of a Phase 1/Phase 2 mix to keep losing as much weight as possible. My doctor actually highly recommended the South Beach diet. She says that everyone should be eating this way; so give it a try if you are trying to lose weight and adopt a healthy way of eating. I really like it so far because there is no measuring involved and I am never hungry (3 meals and 2 snacks - you have to eat dessert)! I will admit, if you are a "carb fiend" like me, the first couple of days will suck... bad. But you kind of get used to it.

School is going well. My first semester was hard but taught me a lot about what I am really capable of doing when pushed to the limit. This semester is going to be just as busy, but I am taking mostly Marketing classes, which have been pretty cool thus far.

So I guess I should get back to work. Miss you all dearly!

Closure

2010-12-20T04:27:00.000-08:00

So I got the results back from my doctor a few weeks ago. I do in fact have Central Scarring Alopecia. I am happy to finally have closure on this but now it is definitely real.

She put me on antibiotics twice a day, which is good. The downside is that they make me nauseous and I have be very careful about what I eat before and after I take the medicine. I have been on them for almost a month I wasn't sure if they were "working" or not since I am still wearing a weave. I just got home for break and it was time to get my weave redone. I was dreading taking out my braids and combing through my hair. But to my surprise, I didn't lose that much hair and I really think that the medicine is working. My scalp hasn't been sore or itchy either, so I am feeling good about the prospect of not losing anymore hair.

So my plan is to keep wearing this protective style in hopes of giving my natural hair a rest. It has grown a lot and I hope to continue keeping it "safe" for a little longer. I figure the longer my hair is, the easier it will be to hide my bald spots.

Once again, the Marcella Ellis Salon did a fantastic job and I opted for something a little shorter this time. All in all things are well and I will keep you all updated on my hair health.

The Waiting Game...

2010-11-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

So things with me are pretty good. I go home for Thanksgiving Break next week and I have been doing well with my coursework. But my hair woes still continue. Last week I finally got to see the dermatologist. I had to wait months to get an appointment; literally months - I called to make an appointment when I got to school in August, and they couldn't see me until November. I'm not sure if it's because I have crappy student health insurance, or if there is just one dermatologist in Ithaca, or a combination of the two.

Well the doctor was definitely worth the wait. She was fantastic and I immediately felt more comfortable under her care than I have previously with my doctor back in DC. To my surprise, she wanted to do a scalp biopsy. Mind you... I just put this weave in and it cost a pretty penny. To my surprise, she was hip on her weave knowledge and she promised me that she wouldn't completely destroy my masterpiece :). She cut about a 1/2 inch square of the net, so my scalp was exposed and the rest...I wasn't prepared for.

Next she whips out a needle and then asks me, "Are you good with needles?" I mean I am but I wasn't prepared for all of this! I thought she was just going to look at my scalp and go from there. So she numbs the area of my scalp and literally takes a piece of my scalp and prepares it for the lab. A hair specialist is as we speak analyzing my scalp and trying to figure out if indeed have Central Scarring Alopecia. The doctor thinks that I do and she asked me how aggressively I want to try and treat this, if this is in fact the case. I told her I am willing to try anything within reason. There are some oral medications that we may be able to try, but I am waiting to hear back from her, before I think about that.

I miss my natural poof.

I'm sorry that I don't have more to say on "natural hair" at the moment, but I hope sharing my story helps others. More to come soon.