Length Check and straight week 2016

It has been a while and I was itching to see what my hair had been up to. The logical step then was a length check.



Couldn't seem to get a good picture

It has become my norm to use an anti-reversion kit when I straighten my hair. I had some left over from my last straightening several months ago. That means you can get several uses out of the product- considering my frugal nature that is a big deal. I wore my hair straight for a little over a week during a cloudy and rainy week. I did not work out but that was my plan (my body needed a break).

So my hair (the longest section of it) comes to about the middle of my shoulder blades. I ended up cutting about 4 or more inches from my hair over the course of the week due to split ends and single strand knots. I have decided to make a few changes to how I care for my hair based on this, but I will explore that later.

I could not stop touching my hair all week and loved to randomly take it down to show it off. There is something about how my hair shrinks that still surprises me. I know that my hair appears bigger rather than longer in its natural state but I had no idea how much so until I actually straighten it. I also found that the longer it gets the harder it gets for people, who don't understand my hair's nature, to believe that the straight version is all me.

I was happy to have a break from the normal care of my hair and enjoy it down. It was hard though to enjoy the extra heat on my neck especially since the temperature has climbed a bit here.

 

The picture below shows how far I have come and was taken at least a few years ago.

 

I will continue to work toward growth and health, since why not.

I don't know at what point I may want to start anew but for now.....

Growth and health is the goal

2014 wrap up| Look back at my Styles

2014 was such a good year for my hair!

Reasons why it was so good...

1. Henna! my hair has more color and health due to henna use
2. Deep conditioner- I have added deep conditioning to my routine every wash day
3. Homemade oil mixtures- I make my own oil mixtures which you can find here
4. Skills- My skill at doing my own hair has grown
5. Growth- after such a big chop earlier in 2014 I had much growth before the end of the year
6. Styles- I had many styles and was never bored
7. Check it out for yourself in this video below

 

 

 

 

I hope that you are coming into the new year with me. Like my channel on YouTube here and subscribe to my blog => please!

 

To come soon More info on my oil mixture, My go to products/ routine, and What I have learned so far being natural.

 

 

Hacks for Straightening Natural Hair

Every few months I get tired of pretending to love the shrinking power of my natural hair. During these times I think of ways to switch up my look. Often I explore a straight style. 

Over the years I have learned a few tricks that result in straighter hair and love to share the wealth. 

To get from this :

To this: 

I use a blow dryer and a flat iron.

Tips:

1. Use a a heat protectant and make sure the hair is moisturized. 

2. Pull on the hair during blow drying rather than using a comb. 

3. Use a flat iron to follow a rat tail comb as you straighten the hair.

4. Limit passes with the flat iron. 

5. Part the hair in really small sections, this can be very difficult if you have thick dense hair and little patience. 

Dry hair breaks and that typically isn't the desired effect, hair also burns which would ruin my growth goals.  I find that pulling my hair while I dry it results in more stretching than using a comb. If you have ever attempted to straighten very curly hair without a comb I have just given you the best tool you'll ever use. Using the comb prevents the hair from remaining tangled and staying a flattened curly mess. Lastly to limit the potential damage I try to only go through the hair once or twice.   

Below are my most recent results. 

~Curls and love!