This Week's Hair ~April 25th 2016~

Typically,

I attempt to do small/mini twists to keep up all week. This has been my typical for a very long time. As many of us experience, I get tired of the typical from time to time. So this week I went for protected, professional, and low maintenance for the week. It has been a while since I did an updo so this was right on time.

I have the option of ponytail or bun. 

Maintenance is quite simple, I remove my hair tie and place a satin hair tie around my twists very loosely and wrap with my satin scarf. I may add more leave in and oil to the loose twists as my hair dictates.

Products used: Giovanni Smooth As Silk  Shampoo, Aussie Three Minute Miracle Moist, Giovanni Direct Leave-in, Shea Moisture Reconstructive Finishing Elixir, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

How to spurce up corn rows/ flat twists

I mastered flat twists years ago, but thought they were not professional enough to be worn to work for the most part.

Well enter my laziness at not wanting to spend a few hours installing mini twists and the return of the flat twist. I had an idea to transform the flat twist into a bun like style that would be professional and much more protective than my mini twists.

With the mini twists I usually still touch the hair and change up the style.

 With this bun like style I planned (and succeeded) at not

touching my hair for an entire week. This made the style truly protective.

 

So I played with this style and LOVED it, it will be added into my hair routine so feel free to also think up something like this to leave your hair untouched and protected.

 

* FYI this flat twist resulted in the cutest twist out.

 



Maiden "braid" tutorial

As a natural there are times when the last thing I want to do is spend hours doing my hair. I like to take breaks during this time and do styles that will last all week but take minimal time to install.

Enter the flat twist, think Tracee Ellis Ross or if you love The Color Purple like I do Nettie from the movie.

While rocking a version of the style I saw on You Tube I was told by a very handsome man I know that I looked like a maiden. So I named the style described in the video the Maiden Braid, though it is in actuality a flat twist. Try it out on those "I want my hair protected but I don't want to spend money, or hours on getting it done" days.

Tell me what you think of the style.....

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.

 

 

December blow out

 My winter Blowout!

Hey girl hey!

It has been a while since I updated you on my hair.

I  have been rocking my twists and twist-outs faithfully.

There have been a few updates to my hair routine and I will touch on that a bit below.

 

I blow dried my hair in sections and twisted each once dry and moved on to the next.

Channeling Diana

My lovely blown-out hair.

 

Working my hair up to the ponytail for the style.

The off center pony tail

My finished look

I added the headband for added style and twisted the hair and pinned it to form a cute style.

The products I used.

Herbal Essences Naked cleansing conditioner

Tangle tamer

Oil mixture

Aussie 3minute moist deep conditioner

Beautiful textures Edges& Ends Silkener

Tresemme Curl hydration conditioner

Pantene heat protection spray

 

The Method:

I washed my hair with the cleansing conditioner (I love this product and it has replaced all other co-washes for me. I love the smell, the cleansing effects, and the feel of my hair).

 I then used the Tresemme (like the smell, not that great just trying to finish the bottle)

 followed by the Aussie deep conditioner (LOVE THIS!!!!) during this time I used a clay mask and bathed

next up was my oil mixture

follow that with a rinse to get the majority of the oil out

 then I dried my hair a bit with my turbie wrap ( I had detangled in the shower with a wide tooth comb under the water and with conditioner in my hair)

 I sectioned my hair and added Shea Moisture Restorative conditioner(not pictured) and detangled more

 then prior to blow drying each section I sprayed in the Pantene product (and of course combed that though)

I used the Tension Method to straighten and dry the lengths of my hair and finger combed or used the Tangle Tamer to straighten the ends

 Once my hair was all dry and twisted in sections I untwisted the sections and applied the Beautiful Textures products to my edges

( I used this for a bit of hold and do not really believe any products will "slick your natural edges")then brushed the hair up and placed my pony tail

 I made two strand twists in the ponytail and then pinned the sections at the ends to form the style

 ( I did not have time for a scared but would have used it here if I did)

I finished off the style with a head band.

 

 

Protective style on straight natural hair

This past weekend I got my hair straightened, cut, and deep conditioned at Good Hair Day Salon in Duncanville,TX. My stylist Tekayla was a breath of fresh air compared to what I last experienced.  I told her to go ahead and cut all of the split ends that needed to be cut. She continuously asked me if I was sure while she was doing it, I now know why. My hair was at near bra strap length now it is near collar bone length. :''(.

But now my hair is 90% healthy. My plan is to be consistent with frequent trims as that is the only thing that has been missing in my hair care practices.  My thought was if I'm not damaging the ends why would they split. But considering every person that has touched my hair the last three years has been hesitant to cut all that needs it then I space out the trims 5 months apart....of course it would be damaged. So I have always booked my need trim with Tekayla.

So here are some pictures of what my hair looks like now and a cute style I played with tonight...see you soon. 

Don't forget to check out my Youtube videos as well. www.youtube.com/texygirl

Professional twisted updo

Once again bored with the norm....

 

A few weeks back I decided to do a good old youtube search for something new to do. I happened upon a style similar to what is pictured below. I started on freshly washed hair. I added some leave in conditioner and styled with my Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie. I then sectioned my hair so that there would be a right side part. I did medium sized two strand twists all over my head. I then wrapped my twists around my head from their location to the furthest point and secured with a Bobby pin. I sat under the dryer until they were all dry. This was done to stretch my hair and keep me from leaving with a damp head in the cold weather.

In the morning I removed my scarf and rolled the hair in the front toward the back. On the right side there were two rolls and on the left there were three. In the back I rolled and tucked the twists up and secured with bobby pins. The result is that the hair is basically coming to meet itself in the middle.

 

I really enjoyed this style and repeated it through the week. I then enjoyed a nice twist out which remains my fave style. Try this out, hope you like it.

Left Side view

                           

 

Right side view

                  

Faux hawkish, updo

Below are some pictures of a style I thought up to go out dancing at a salsa club. 

I scale hair style success based on the following:

1. Do I feel pretty?
2. Does it hurt?
3. Did it change during the day?
4. Did I receive any compliments on it?
5. How long does it take me to do?

=This style rated very high and I will likely replicate it. 

It came to me because I had undefined, semi stretched hair. This would usually keep me in the house but instead I decided to take control of it. 

 

So how did I accomplish this style you ask? 

I started by two strand twisting a section in the front for the bang. *I added styling product and detangled first.* I did this part before getting in the shower and getting dressed.  

Once the hair had time to take shape I separated the hair in the back into 3 sections. I made the first pony tail and then twisted that section of hair, I then pulled that hair into the next section and twisted all of that hair as well, I repeated this one final time without twisting as the bottom section is the bun. I secured the hair with a hair band with the hair doubled over into and easy bun. To get hold with this style I used my lovely aloe Vera gel ( tons of it) and gently brushed. 

At this point I removed the twists in front, I then arranged the hair to the side and twisted the very ends tucking them under and securing with a Bobbie pin or two.  Voila, simply, easy, and classy. 

*If you like subscribe to my blog!*****

Top knot/bun

I've been wanting to do this style for a while, but rarely have my hair "out". So this week after my move to a new city I was in no mood for a few hours of twists. So I washed my hair twisted a front section, in two strand twists for bangs, and used a big banding technique for the rest of my hair. This resulted in my hair being somewhat stretched out. The pictures here are the result of me finally trying a top knot sort of bun. I like it and if I find myself too lazy for a more time intensive protective style, this will be my go to.

 

What do you think? Ever worn a high bun?

Twists on dry hair| Natural hair

I am usually a proponent for doing twists on wet/damp hair. I just think that it looks more sleek and results in a better twist out. I have done twists on dry hair in the past and it just didn't look too great. Yesterday though I simply could not wait to wash my hair- enter eczema- so I did an ACV (Apple cider vinegar) wash and used conditioner I had put some tea tree oil in. My hair felt better but I was not about doing hours of work on a Saturday. So I tried a faux hawk style and rocked it for the weekend.
So this week I have two big professional moments, my final grad school presentation and a job interview (wish me luck). So I decided twists could be more easily converted to a professional style. So tell me what you think. I may post the cute professional styles later.

Faux hawk with twists

A friend requested that I post a tutorial for this hairstyle. So check it out below. I decided to add twists to make it a little more interesting. I used moisturizer, aloe Vera gel, Bobbie pins, hair clips, hair ties, and a brush for the style.

3 minute style on twist out

A style I created this morning on the way to a party.

Twisted bun

So to celebrate the last day of my straight hair I did one last styling video. My hair was very frizzy at this point due to the humidity in my city. This style was very easy and worked to protect my hair. Twists are the major facet in the style, you know how I love them. I also got to use the Beauty Elixir by Orofluido aka oil that I received in my October Birchbox. I love the way this product smells, it's vanilla amber with argan oil and two others I am unfamiliar with.
See the video below and tell me if you have any comments, requests or questions.