OOOOH this is indeed A Journey!

Sisterlocked 5 weeks

Okay,  I'm starting to sound like a broken record.  "It's been so long since I've blogged here!" Atleast I got back before the year was gone!  Lol.   How have you been?  I hope your life has been going well and that you've been in control of your beautiful crowns.    What's new with your natural hair journey?  Please share.    Well as you can see I have journeyed back to locks. But this time Sisterlocks.  I know, I felt crazy when I began to have the same feelings that sent me running into my braid locks a couple years ago.  I ended my braidlock journey because I missed having big hair, and because of lint build up in my nape. 

 I was excited to be back to my fro, but after awhile that work of detangling, wash day, and three day prep and style was wearing on me again. Plus, I kinda missed my locks!?  Man when I tell you I felt CRAZY.. I had never been so conflicted in my life on how I wanted to continue my natural hair journey.  I love being natural that one thing will NEVER  change, but how I wanted to continue my natural Journey?  Now that had me in a "go long" as my mother would say!  

A couple months before Sisterlocks. 

Medium Twists(home base)

After an additional year of washing, detangling, twisting, crocheting, twisting, and wondering what I am going to do with my natural hair next.  I had come to a crossroads again! What do I want to do with my hair long term?   I  LOVE my natural hair but I had to make a decision on what mattered to me more, my peace and time, or my love for my big fluffy natural hair. And babes,  peace and time won out!  My hair is so time consuming, and I don't want to live in two strand twists and braids. Which was happening a lot. So yah, the big hair that I took my locks down for, I was rarely sporting.  And when I was in a protective style I found my self planning for the next one before I could enjoy the one I had. And when my hair was out I was counting down the days until I had to wash and detangle again.  (uggggh)   This cycle had to end.  I just wanted to enjoy my natural hair with out all the "fuss" so I found my self skimming over my old braid lock pics, to see if it was really "that" flat.  Also I started looking at lock inspiration photos again, in particular Sisterlocks.  I started to come across sister lock'd  beauties and specifically the ladies below and thought, hold up?  They have really full hair, fluffy hair, and its locked? I can do this!  I can continue on like this and feel good about my natural hair. 

Gorgeous right!?   (Please be sure to look them up on instagram! They are always serving up beautiful lock pics!)  

I decided to start sisterlocks because I would have more of them, which would yield a fuller head of locks for me.  I can wear my hair down as much as I want to, and not worry about tangles, excessive shrinkage, or my ends.   My natural hair is dense, full and thick. I wanted to  make sure that if I went this route that I could expect my sisterlocks to be full and thick, just like  "my" natural hair.  I didn't want my strands to be suppressed if that makes sense?    My consultant assured me that my hair had the potential to do this.  Now I know natural hair textures and densities are like a fingerprint,  so I am not expecting to have the exact same set of locks as these ladies or others that I crush on. But I do want them full, as long as its full,  I'm good!  

So I am five weeks in, and I am loving this new journey. I have a lot to share so I will be blogging more regularly now.  I also have some topics concerning this journey "long term" that I'd like to discuss. I am running into a lot of long term naturals who are kind of over their natural hair , like actually thinking about going back to relaxers and that scares me! So we need to talk about this.  

 If you have any un answered questions regarding natural hair care please leave me your questions.  If you would like me to discuss certain topics let me know! Shoot me an email or leave it in the comments.   I feel I have discussed everything under the sun as it pertains to natural hair care on this blog over the last 7 years.   But, I know  there are still some questions out there, and I don't mind answering  them : ) Well Until Next time!!  

My Braid Locks are GONE, and I'm a RED head!

Fall Season: Crochet Braids ( as usual) 

Hey Y'all!!  Finally! I'm back to blogging.  : )  I pray that  your start to this new year has been productive and peaceful so far.  Let me first  apologize to anyone who has revisited my blog in the last year looking for new entries  only to find nothing since Last February!   I am too shamed about that, however, I  have comforted myself with the fact that there's over 5 years worth of content on healthy hair care here. I honestly can't think of one topic concerning healthy natural hair that I have not covered?  But blogging for me has always been about the journey, learning, and then sharing so yah, it continues!  

Since I've last blogged too  much has happened in life and with this hair!  I will try my best to summarize!   I am learning that people now days are reading a lot less.  Rapid technology progression, and instant social media outlets have really taken over!   Instagram,Facebook,twitter,snapchat,Periscope, youtube,vine, and everything else has really taken first place for a lot of web surfers.  But I for one still love to read, and write.  

So if you have made it to this third paragraph then I am assuming you still love to read too,  and I am in great company. Welcome!  and  thank you!   My goal in the future will be  posts with shorter blog content, and or short video clips. That will save you and me time in the future, and I can blog more frequently!    

Last time I posted here I had braid locks started.  That journey lasted almost 2 years ago, and I decided to pick and comb them out.  That's right you don't have to cut out locks young or old.  All you need is patience, conditioner, and a push pin!   I loved those locks and never imagined that I would take them down so quickly! I had 276 of them.  and Keisha at Nappybliss Salon in Desoto, TX  kept my locks looking really nice and groomed. I visited her every month. (I miss my visits there!)

Lock take down, it took 2 months! 

I thought I was in that lock journey for the long haul, I was willing to give it atleast 7- 10 years,  dead  serious!   That is how sick  I was of  detangling my loose natural hair.   I soon learned that to lock your hair for this reason was not a good idea,  and especially if you love BIG fluffy hair. (I knew this about myself going in, but I figured I'd get over it.)   

Why I took them down: 

1. I was getting bored often.  I even colored them while they were in to settle that down. worked for about 2 months!  2. My hair seemed flat to me ALL the time. Even when I rodded it, it wasn't big enough for me .   3. I started to get build up in the nape of my locks that was really tough to remove.   

That 3rd reason was what drove me to actually take action on what I had been pondering for atleast 5 months.  Everything else I was willing to power through because I figured the longer my locks got I could do more with them, and possibly the chords of hair would be thicker, yielding fuller bigger hair styles so the first two weren't deal breakers.   But that lint?!?? uh uh.. I could NOT take it, no matter my efforts that stuff was embedded, and I just felt some kinda way about seeing it, and then the stuff  was not budging?  I figured I'm not even 2 years in and I already have  a lint problem, that I can't control??  (and no I didn't use product on my locks or a ton of oils).    I felt like If I pulled out early I could still save my hair and go back to what I knew best,  and that is caring for loose natural hair. BUT I must say, I don't regret my decision to lock my hair,  or the journey one bit.  I loved it and I learned so much more about my natural hair.  Plus wash days were heavenly!!! NO detangling, truly I had wash and go hair it was awesome!!  It  took me 2 months to take my hair down and I was already dreading detangling and was already coming up with ways to not let that get the best of me this time around.      

a week after the take down

Post lock take down, I immediately cleansed my hair and added Henna! (Y'all already know how much I love Henna.)  I figured my hair needed some serious coating  after all of that picking and combing.    I soon decided to lighten my hair color even more, with a chocolate base, and copper  chunky highlights (I wanted to try something that I hadn't tried yet on my natural hair.)  

Twist out(Oh! Got a nose ring too! uh huh) 

I also trimmed my hair quite a bit after the lock take down because I wanted to be sure that 17 months worth of potentially thin and knotted ends were not going to endanger my stronger strands.   The shorter length made it easier to wash, deep condition, and style my  loose hair.  The color actually loosened my texture a tad, not much, but  just enough for me to feel a difference in detangling!  When I say its like night and day, LOVE IT!!    My detangling sessions are so much faster now,  so wondering if its the shorter length, or the color. Time will tell. :)  

Detangling with conditioner

I am very much PRO healthy hair, and have been for years which is why its taken me this long to even think about using a "Bright" chemical color on my hair.  But I've researched and applied  the proper care for color treated natural hair and it has done VERY well thus far. I was so afraid of my hair being dry and potentially breaking but I have learned that its not always the color that is the problem but the improper care of colored treated hair.  You've got to adjust your regimen because you are dealing with a slightly different head of hair.    I will definitely be posting about that soon.       

At the present I am in protective style braid extensions,  as I am most winter and fall seasons.  My hair will come back out to play in the Spring!  

But, I plan to be back here with more information on what I've learned about EVERYTHING retaining to this hair, other people's hair,  the natural hair  industry, Entrepreneurship, and life in general.  Goodness there is so much to share!   

Please  let me know if you have any questions..  What life lessons have you learned, have you gone through any major roller coasters as it pertains to your natural hair journey lately?  Share it!   

Until Next time, (and it's coming sooner than you think! lol)

Individual -Tree braids 

  

My Update, and Natural Hair/ Crochet Braid Mania!

Well Heeeey! Happy New year. Lol.  Yes, I'm still here! My apologies, I know  I have been on  a serious  hiatus from my blog.  After  recovery from surgery I hit the grown running and have not looked back.  I haven't had time to!  I praise God for an awesome recovery, I am truly grateful!

 My clients have been keeping my calendar booked tight!  I am definitely grateful for the business but I do  need to find a peaceful balance. Rest is a must.   During my "hiatus"   my husband and I turned 40,  we had to celebrate those milestones.  We also  moved during this time and we are still trying to get settled.  It's been a minor whirl wind in the last 4 months,  and I'm sure I have left something out!

Okay  now on to the business of hair!  

Have you  noticed  how the  interest in natural hair, and crochet braids has exploded  within the last 4 to 5 months!!?  True, there has been a great shift in the last 2 or 3 years  with women transitioning or big chopping, but these last 5 months I've had "new" people pouring into my salon.  They all have had enough of chemical relaxers.  This is music to my ears because we have awesome hair, and didn't know it until now!

Source: Instagram  

I saw this photo, and  it blew me away!  I am so proud of the women who've decided to give their natural hair a try, and many have remained this way.   This is definitely worth a future blog post!

Curly or kinky Crochet braids also seems to be the style of choice for those considering natural hair, or transitioning.  A couple years ago I had a client ask if I would start offering crochet braids, and I wasn't too sure about  it.  Well fast forward a couple more years, and boy I am glad that I did! 

 These braids are awesome, my clients fell in love with them and so did I.  Since then,  Crochet braids has become my most requested service!  Thanks ladies!! You know who you are : ).   The curl patterns and textures offer many different looks. The Kinky or Curly textures  give  those who are interested in going natural a chance to try out the look before making their decision, that's just awesome.  

Marley Hair Braided out &  Twist out below 

 

  Also, those who are currently natural love that they can keep their all natural look with out constant manipulation to their  own natural hair.  Many are saying it trumps  the "wiggy" look they get from  full sew ins.  Best of all, you can still get to your scalp!  You can wash, scratch, and oil your scalp as well as wash and moisturize the braids underneath,  It is perfect!   And the style lasts up to 2 months. 

I guess I can see why the sudden obsession with Crochet braids. Using curly hair is on thing, but now ladies are using straight,wavy,kinky,curly,  and twisted hair to crochet and create several different looks without the stress.  Some  are even leaving their edges out(like a sew in) to blend and get an unbelievable natural look! 

Instagram Source: Beautycanbraid 

Wow talk about the rebirth of a style!  These modern Crochets Braids  are taking the natural hair care, and styling world by storm!   Yep,  our natural hair is beautiful, and it's  beautiful enough to emulate.  

That is huge.      

   

Well Until Next time!! 

This is why your hair is shedding (Part One )

If you're like most women persistent hair shedding can really do a number on your mood.  What plays with our minds more than anything is not knowing what's causing the shedding.  I've come across  many women who are freaking out due to hair shedding.  I hear questions like: "Is this normal?" Or statements like "I have tried everything", or  "hair comes out every time I touch it".    The first step to understanding  why your hair is shedding, is to understand YOUR hair.    What I have found is that most women don't understand the natural cycles and course of their hair.  In my line of work I've seen  all kinds of scenarios when it comes to hair shed.   I've detangled and manipulated hair that releases as little as 10 strands to a pile that is big enough to make a small wig! No joke.  In every situation there were specific factors related to that person resulting in how much hair was shed.  So you should never look at how much hair someone else is loosing during manipulation verses how much hair you are losing.

First understand that all of us have hair growth cycles and stages that our hair goes through,  and we can all be in different stages of the cycle.  As well as the seasons our cycles fall in.  Becoming familiar with you hair will help you know your shedding season.  Just in case you have never seen the chart of these different growth cycles here is the image below:

I'm not going to go into  detail about each phase.   As the chart indicates,  Anagen is the growth phase, Catagen is where the strand is resting, Telogen is resting and shedding.  There's also another phase not shown here called Exogen where the hair strand is dormant before it returns to Anagen.  

How long your hair strands stay in each phase is determined by your genetics.  For this post we will only talk about the Telogen phase as it pertains to our topic on shedding.   One thing you should remember:  It is natural for your hair to shed.  Some women believe  if they see any shed hair that something must be wrong.  This is not always the case.  Don't stress yourselves out, it is  normal to see some shedding. (Note: If you don't see the bulb of the hair strand, and the pieces are short its breakage not shedding) With Telogen  shedding its important to know when you hair is going through its season. On average it has been reported that most people are in this phase during the late summer and early fall months. So this phase can last as long as 4 months for some.  You most definitely can pinpoint which season you are in during  the Telogen phase if you are use to caring for your own hair on a regular basis.  Pay attention to the times your hair overall tends to  release more than the estimated 50-100 strands a day standard.   My Telogen phase is during the Fall.  I know this because before I starting locking my hair, I cared for my own hair 100% of the time.  My regimen was deliberate and consistent, and I pay attention to the characteristics of my hair year in and year out. This principal will help you pinpoint the reason behind most hair issues, and help you find a solution  before its too late.  If you have a stylist who you trust with your regular maintenance, ask him/her to help you keep track.   

Other factors that can contribute to your hair shedding: 

• Hormones
• Damage
• Low protein diets
• Stress
• Thyroid disorders
• Anemia 

In Part Two of  This is why your hair is my hair shedding I will elaborate on some of  the above factors that could be the result of your hair shed.  I will also point out what you can do to prevent or minimize abnormal shedding.   

Have you ever had a hard time figuring out why your hair was shedding, and finally figured it out? If so, please share the cause and if you were able to remedy it. We would love to hear from you! 

Well, Until Next time for Part Two of: This is Why your Hair is Shedding...Part two! 

Surgery, recovery, and a hair update.... Ladies, it's time to catch up!

So Here's your Latte!  I got mine! : ) 

What's been going on!? It's been a while since I've reached out.  I apologize, so much has been going on since the last time I was here!   You know how that can be, life has a way of taking over and sometimes overwhelming us.   When we last touched base  I was announcing my new micro lock journey, and had every intention of getting back here asap with updates on that, as well as a ton of info to share in natural hair care, growth aids, natural hair issues, concerns,  successes etc.. But every time I would think about posting something I could not get up the energy.   I found out around the time of my last post that I had to have a major surgery.   Having to  wrap my mind around everything with that, building up my energy to continue working, and planning for my 2 month leave of absence from my business was draining.   I will tell you, I have learned a couple quick lessons as it pertains to being an independent business owner needing Short Term Disability pay, 1. There is none  2. Everything is on you, so plan for it!    Seems like common sense but you just don't think about all of that until something happens.  Shoot, I was too busy working like nothing could ever effect my ability "to work."  So new business owners, please  save  or obtain insurance that will assist incase you are not able to work and make money.   If there is one thing I miss about working for someone else is not having to worry about medical insurance, short term disability, and taxes!  I so took all that stuff for granted lol.  I thank God that he has shown me what he can do!  I have truly had to rely on him during this entire time and he's come through for me thank you Jesus!    

I had my surgery about 2 weeks ago, and I am in recovery.  8 weeks total. I've been around here looking like the photo below and worse.  Primarily worse, lol!   I couldn't put too ugly of a photo on here I don't want to scare anybody : )

Thank God I had no hair worries! 

No heels for a lonnng while!  

Me , sweats, socks, and these ballet flats have been really close.. I won't know how to act when I can finally put on "real" clothes. lol.   Now even though my surgery  was 5 hours, yes 5 hours, which ultimately threw me  immediately into menopause  at the age of 39, I am doing well! I am glad that despite the hot flashes, and occasional emotional outbreaks I am encouraged and feeling well. I am moving around great and can't wait  to get back out and live my life,  Cabin Fever is real!  lol.    

As for my hair, I am now, 4 months  into locking and still loving my decision to start micro locks.   They get super frizzy and they are going through a lot of transformations.  Budding, shrinking, some bunching on a few, slippage,  but it all comes with the process of locking.  Glad I did my research and made peace before I made my decision.  I typically wear my hair in braid outs which really mask a lot of the frizzing and craziness that comes along with how your hair looks when you are locking it. Also the braid lock installation method  alone,  helps to mask that as appose to starting with coils or twists.  

So that's where I am with my hair, it is definitely more of a patience lesson with this journey because there is not a lot that you can do to your hair to help it along? You just have to wait!  So I am busying my self with other personal journeys to try and take my mind off of how long this locking process will take.  I am told it can take up to 2 years before they fully look like locks.  So yah? You can continue to follow that journey on my instagram  at chawthorne3.  

The Evolution of my Micro locks 

Well friends, that's whats been going on in my neck of the woods.   What's been going on with you? Have you been too busy to blog, vlog, research, or deal with your hair?   I know I have so much to blog about! I hear so many stories in my line of work regarding natural hair, and a lot of the stories are similar.  If so many of my clients are dealing with it I know some of you may be experiencing a bit of the same.   So stay tuned I'd like to tackle some of that to help you guys out.  It will not take me another 4 months to get back here.  I have another 6 weeks of lock down with my recovery, so I have nothing but time to post!   : )   Well Until Next time, keep your life Happy and Healthy!   

  

My Microlocks Journey!

My Shake n Go Baby locs! 

 Hello Natural Beauties! I hope you are  staying inspired to grow  your best head of Healthy Happy Hair?   I have been trying to get back here to write for 3 weeks now!  I do have a few things to share that should help spice up your natural hair care game, but first, I wanted to share what I've been into! 

  Yah  I know my title gave it away lol.   I've decided to start locking my hair!  It was an option I had been entertaining for at least a year and a half now.  I've always admired locs since year two of my natural hair journey but never thought I could or would do it.  In my research I found that there are several ways to start locking as well as several lock sizes that you could choose from that best fit your personality and lifestyle.   I narrowed it down to Sister locks and Micro Braid locs.  In the end Microbraid locs proved to be the best way for me to begin this journey.   I had 276 my micro-braid locks installed on 4-22-14 at Nappybliss Salon in Desoto, Texas.  

 Will interlocking new growth every 4-6 weeks

Some people were surprised that I decided to go this route, because my hair is/was " SOO Pretty"   What's that suppose to mean?  More on that when I start my new blog highlighting my new journey with microlocs.  But,  if you've actually read my blog posts about my regimen and process lately you could probably see the writing on the wall. lol.     

Love that its already full..I want full mature locs!

What lead to this final decision:  

After being a loose natural for 4.5 years I'd reached a point where I was no longer  enjoying my natural hair care routine/process.  I began to loath my wash days which began to take  3 days to complete from beginning to end(end meaning, my final desired style).  Because of my business schedule I rarely finished my hair in one day.  (And on those in between days, I was always looking crazy trying to conceal "the transformation").    I was spending so much time on my hair the longer it got, that I felt  I was starting to miss out on my life!  I felt I wasn't enjoying my natural hair in its full glory, but more so trying to maintain it and look presentable. Any extra styling flare had been placed on the back burner. My wash days had taken enough out of me.  And while I do natural hair for a living, by the time I got home I had no strength for my own?  I even cut it in February about 3 inches off,  which gave me some what of a fresh wind.... but that was short lived. lol. 

Whenever my hair was styled out it was always gorgeous to me. It's what people see.  But people, there is a process, and you have to be at peace with your process, before and after the style.  (Every person's Hair texture, density, lifestyle, skill level, patience level, and work schedule will dictate what your process is and how long it takes)    Natural Hair care processes are never one size fits all.   I have learned that my quick fix to problem areas are not always helpful to others because of the things I just mentioned, and vice versa.   I had began to complain so much about my process to detangle that I was starting to get on my own nerves!  Nothing I tried was ever good enough for me on saving time.  I was also starting to leave styles in longer and stretching out my wash weeks.  Whenever I did have time to do my hair, I was so tired from working I didn't want to do it. That really wasn't fair to my precious loose locks.   

Final loose hair shot.. hair shrunken from prev style. 

I finally had to admit that I was over my process, not my natural hair! lol.. I love my natural hair:  the texture, thickness, and kinky-curls.  I also love that natural hair can be locked and still look beautiful.

 I've done my research and I know locks are not NO maintenance, but  they are  LOWER maintenance.  I promised my self at the beginning of this year that I would enjoy my hair  and not stress over it but celebrate my freedom to wear my hair naturally, and as I please.  So Here's to my Natural Hair Freedom..

**exhaling**  Peace...I feel Great!   SO!  What recent turns has your Natural hair Journey taken?  

Stay tuned..my next post will focus on proven natural hair growth aides!  

My Top 5 Tips to stop Shedding and Breakage

Helllloo Ladies! How's your healthy hair journey going? Are you accomplishing your goals, is your hair showing much progress?  Well I hope so!  But if not,  today I'd like to offer a little insight to help you along the way. Hair breakage is something many of us face when trying to grow and maintain our best hair.  It can be really  frustrating doing all you "know" to do only to get less than acceptable results. If you are going to have the best hair of your life breakage is something that you will have to get under control first.   When there is unexplained breakage and questionable shedding, not knowing what to do can further thwart your efforts to grow and maintain healthy hair.  Below are my top 5  proven methods to bring breakage and excessive shedding to a screeching halt! 

  

1. Pay Attention: The best way to thwart excessive breakage and shedding is to nip it in the bud before it gets far gone. Pay attention to what's going on with your hair as you handle it on a daily basis, or weekly, however often you are manipulating your hair. Try not to mindlessly go through your hair without watching the sink, your comb, or your hands.  Inspect to see if there are many short broken pieces.  Check for single strand knots, or if your hair seems to be shedding more than normal from day to day or week to week. When you pay attention early, you can adjust what you are doing as it's happening before breakage manifest its self in a large way!  Example: as I finger comb or take a detangling comb through my hair,  I watch my sink to see if anything is popping off. If I see a short piece of hair right away I can determine why that just happened and correct it. Most of the time it was because there was a single strand knot that just popped off and took a piece of my ends with it!  Or it was because I was yanking through my hair  rougher than I realized. I then immediately adjust what I am doing.  I either move slower or take my scissors and snip any knots I see or feel before combing through it.  I always have my scissors close by when going through my hair. That way, if I come across a single strand knot I can snip it instead of just ripping it off which can lead to split ends, more knots, and additional  breakage.


2.  Strengthen your hair: This really is my first tip, but unfortunately most people don't think of this step until after their hair is showing signs of breakage or excessive shedding. As I said, you want to stop all of this before it starts. Protein deep conditioning sessions and or Ayurvedic (Henna,Cassia, Amla etc.) treatments is a great way to strengthen your hair so that it will resist breakage. I strengthen with protein conditioners twice a month and with an Ayurvedic powder treatment every two months.


3. Keep hair moisturized: By moisturize I mean use water, or using a water based product before using an actual oil to seal. When consulting with my clients I  learn that many of them believe that oil alone is an acceptable sole means of moisturizing their hair. It is not. Oil is a lubricant and aids in making hair soft to the touch and  shiny etc. But it is not moisture. Feel your hair on a daily basis to assess your moisture level; this will help you determine how often you should moisturize. Everyone can have a different schedule. By simply touching your hair every day to assess moisture levels you can avoid dry, crunchy, or stiff hair.  Bottom line: Dry hair breaks!  Try not to handle your hair when it feels too dry because you will more than likely get some breakage.  (Bonus: keep heat and  chemical dye usage to a minimum, these things promote additional dryness. If your hair is already prone to dryness you are asking for a hard time in this area.)

4. Be Gentle: I know you hear this ALL the time. But sorry, it is true.  The health of our hair is preserved in the way it is being handled. Just like delicate clothing you can not bunch, wrinkle,overly stretch, or use too much heat if you want your clothing to last. Our natural hair is not as tough as it looks. All of the curls,coils, and kinks make it easy to snap or break when there is too much force applied. Sometimes we don't know our own strength, I am a witness! Work with your hair in smaller workable sections that are moisturized and pliable. Use products like natural oils or leave in conditioners to soften before you handle.

5. Protective style your hair: This tip is very crucial when dealing with our hair. I  personally experience the best success with my hair when I wear my hair protected. I know as grown women most of us want to wear our hair loose and out, in its full glory all the time. But truth is: Most of our hair can not handle that and continue to progress.  This can be controversial for so many naturals. Face it, no one wants to be told they can't wear their hair like they want and keep it healthy. We women always want the best of both worlds. Now if you can  get away with that and still show amazing progress lift your hands and say thank you Lord, because you have been blessed in that area! lol. But for the rest of us frequent protective styling is the best way to see continual progress in  health and in length retention. There are many ways to protect your hair.  Find one that fits you and your lifestyle. Twists and or  braids is what I typically opt for, and occasionally I wear  buns.  You can go a week at a time, weeks, or months depending on what you choose. But the less you handle and go through your hair the less breakage you will have, and the more length you will retain.  


There you have them! My top 5 tips to stop excessive shedding and breakage. Of course there are other things to consider like hormones or medications.  But these 5 basics have never failed me!

So what do you do to keep breakage and shedding to a minimum?


Well, until we meet again!  Keep it Healthy and Happy!

Minimizing tangles,knots, and breakage on Type 4 Natural Hair

Well hello natural beauties!  I pray that all is going well with your journey?  At 4.5 years wearing my all natural hair I am here to tell you that I am still learning. Yah, the journey continues! With type 4 hair many of us know that tangles and single strand knots come standard. I didn't really run  into problems with tangles and knots until about year 2.5. My hair was a lot longer so there was more shrinkage thus more knots and tangles to deal with. I've kept those under control over the years by wearing my hair stretched in two strand twists. They have always been my go to staple style and has helped me to maintain healthy hair and retain a good amount of length. I've worn them protective up to 4 to 5 weeks. And when put in larger up to 2 weeks.

In the last year I sort of strayed away from twists because  the longer my hair gets the longer they take to install.  In my attempt to switch up my styling methods and save on time,  I have been reintroduced to how bad my type 4 hair can tangle, shrink, and knot up! I recently cut off about 3 inches to give my hair a nice shape, and since the cut, I've been wearing my hair in buns and ponytails. Lets just say my hair has reminded me that it does not like to be loose and.or out past 3 days or there is heck to pay! (buns don't stretch my hair in this state, the ends just further ball and curl upon themselves in the bun.)

                                                                                   Shrunken

The above photo is how my hair looked after wearing it out in a pony tail all week that I had been adding moisture and oils to. It was so fun and freeing to wear my hair out all week and not worrying about stretching, re-twisting or plaiting it at night. But hon-TEYS? Never again! With this freedom came single strand knots and tangles for days. It seemed as though every end  I had  possessed a single strand knot on it? And then when I added my pre-poo to detangle all of my ends were popping off where the single strand knot was. This is what slows down growth retention. Type 4  natural haired women ask me all the time why their natural hair isn't  retaining length. After speaking with them I find that they wear their type 4 tightly curled or coiled hair out most of the time, in a shrunken state. And I'm sorry, this is a no go if you want your hair to retain length at a faster rate, or at ALL for some people. I know people who have literally been at the same length of hair for years and its not been on purpose. (If you aren't trying to grow your hair longer then this is definitely not a big concern for you, as you can just keep cutting your ends off?)

Type 4 hair in my opinion is best managed in a stretched state. Meaning if you want to minimize breakage, knots, and retain length its better to wear your hair in a stretched state. Now it is up to you to find the healthiest way and the most convenient way to do that for your hair. Everyone isn't going to adopt all of the same practices when it comes to stretching, but definitely do what you can manage, and work it into your schedule.  Over the years I've always washed, deep conditioned, and plaited my hair to stretch it out, and then after about 90% dry I will add my two strand twists or plaits.  This has been working perfectly for my hair, and then  I had the nerve to not want  to spend 2 to 3 days post wash in my head.. Geez what was I thinking right? lol.   So,  I have been on a bit of a quest to find a quicker but still healthy way to keep my hair stretched.  So I've gone back to exploring the blow dry and or  flat iron heat stretching method.  

Blow out on Medium heat

I washed with a apple cider vinegar rinse, and did a protein "steam" deep conditioning treatment. I also used a silicone "this time" as a heat protectant (I typically use safflower oil or grapeseed oil). I used a silicone serum  because I knew I would be lightly flat ironing it, and wanted to see if it would reduce some of the frizz or quick reverting that I experience.  Although, I love how blow dried natural hair feels overall, it can make my ends feel dry. To counter that some I  saturate my ends in my deep conditioner and add oils. After I rinse, I use a heavy moisturizer, a protein leave in, and oil to seal. (Still trying to perfect the moisture to my ends).  After I blew my hair out this time I decided to run the flat iron through it, mainly out of length curiosity because I wanted to check out my new length post cut. Going forward I will use one or the other to heat stretch not both.

Flat ironed on 375

The flat iron seemed really hot to me even at 375, and it was a lot straighter but my hair seems to fluff out pretty quick after a light flat iron. I know if I want my hair silky smooth with flat ironing the temperature has to be above 400 and I'm not going there to get a tangle free stretch, its not needed.   After my hair was stretched I just threw in some plaits for a braid out.  In the future I will probably throw in some medium size twists to bun up for the week and twist out at the end of the week. And then re stretch the twists with plaits to possibly get another week in before washing again. (I've been using the Q-Redew to help refresh in between styles..will give my review on that soon!)   

It felt great to manipulate my stretched hair without worrying about tangles, because even with air drying my hair in stretched plaits, my texture is still tangley when those come down, and especially at the roots.  This just felt so much better. I loved it! So to manage my hair I am seriously thinking about doing this more often but I have to figure out how often my hair can take something like this. As I said, the ends is something to consider. If you choose to do any kind of  heat stretching on a regular basis you could end up with dry or crispy ends which can lead to splitting and you obviously don't want that either, so be sure to add tons of care to them prior to introducing heat.   There are also many other ways to minimize tangles and knots without heat(African threading,banding,plaiting etc). Also there are treatments like oil rinses,frequent hot oil treatments, and adding yogurt to your deep conditioners, or you can make up a homemade conditioner that includes yogurt.

Ladies, if you don't take anything else away, just remember that keeping type 4 hair stretched "in most cases" is the best way to minimize knots and tangles and to retain length. If you want to wear your hair out, by all means wear your hair out, it's yours and you should enjoy it!  Just know  that you have to be willing to put in the time and care on the tail end of that to avoid breakage.  You also have to know how far to go with that. We all know what our hair is capable of and what the limits are for our hair. If not, just hold on, those strands will be faithful to remind you as mine did! lol.  Until Next time keep it Healthy and Happy!

Loving my new cut! 

 

Hey Ladies, Decided to cut my hair! How is your Natural hair shaping up?

                                                                            Shape Day
       Pre-Cut

Hello ladies have you been natural for a while, and  holding on to length despite the shape your hair is morphing into? I have noticed over the years that many of us are so focused on how much length retention we have that we will hold on to every inch regardless of how it looks.  Last year when I haphazardly decided to enter a length challenge to MBL or Waist,  I noticed the longest point of my hair was directly in the center of my back, placing well past BSL. I was measuring my progress by the longest point of my hair. But, was constantly having to explain to people that, "all" of my hair on the bottom was not there yet.  

Above is my hair blown out and flat ironed in July of 2013

The shape actually doesn't look "that" off because it all straight. Just looks like my ends needed trimming, and I took care of that.  But in it's naturally kinky state my hair appeared to be growing a tail because the longest part of my hair which is the nape, is also a looser pattern.  I never wear my hair straight so I need it to look even, and flow as much as possible back there.  

(Earlier last month) Can you see the tail back there?   

(Last Year sometime) You can really see it here. 

This was starting to get annoying when I would style it. So I decided to abort my MBL to WL growth challenge and get this hair shaped up! The only reason why I was holding on to it is because I didn't want to mess up my length retention progress, but I decided I care more about how my hair looks overall. I didn't have her cut  too much, just enough to get it right!  

I'm guessing 2-3 inches  

(Light blow out and No more Tail!)

Light blow out(Nice and round)

Sorry about this photo quality..but you can see the shape!

I am definitely happy that I went ahead and shaped up my hair. I always want my hair to look nice and healthy. Length retention will always be a by product of healthy hair growth. As long as our hair is healthy we can trust that length will follow, if we want it!  I will never hold on to raggedy ends or oddly shape hair because I'm trying to prove to my self and others that I can grow my hair to my knees lol..Chile it ain't that serious with me. Yaay,  I can't wait to style this!  How is your Natural hair shaping up?