April 2013 ~ The Afro Chronicles

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Hair Inspiration

Hey Curlies , Happy Sunday!!
I got some hair inspiration for ya today.. so just sit back , relax and enjoy ..

Hey Curlies, Happy Saturday!!

Ok... so I decided to do minis twist this week after I did my Olive Oil Treatment I was pretty excited about my Ultimate length check I wanted to see how long my hair would look in twists. It took me about three days to do this but as we all know it takes a while to do our hair depending on the style. in the end it was worth it I loved the results and this will last me for weeks.

I simply blow dried my hair with heat protect-ant , serum and leave in con-dish. and started twisting it with Murray's beeswax ( this may not work for everyone's hair) but i love beeswax and it doesn't cake up in my hair. it gives me the hold i need and adds enough sheen for me.

Blow dried hair in twists

Love this stuff!!

End result of mini twists

Featured: Natural Sista

Hey Curlies Meet Courtney Claire

1) How long have you been natural and what make you do so? Also, How do family and friends react to your hair?

I've been natural my whole life, but damaged my hair 1.5 years ago by bleaching my hair to a honey blonde colour. So I did a big chop on August 2, 2012 and been in transition to healthy hair ever since.
Most people love my hair (before the big chop and after). For awhile I got some negative comments about why I didn't just process my hair but too many positive comments about my curls kept me from doing that.

2) What do you like about being natural?

I love my curls and hair texture. And all the funky hairstyles I get to try out that processed or straightened hair cannot do.

3) How would you describe your hair? (loose/tight curls, waves, 3b-3c 4a-4b, if you know,etc...)

I have type 3c hair with tight curls.

4) What products do you use to maintain your hair? (please be specific, thank you!)

I use a variety of products as I am still searching for the right ones for my hair. The main ones are:

- Mixed chicks Leave-In Conditioner & sulfate free shampoo (recently trying)
- Apple Cider Vinegar (80-100% organic)
- African Pride Shea Butter Miracle Moisture Intense leave-in conditioner
- Organics Hair Mayonnaise and Olive Oil Deep Treatments by Africa's Best.
- A variety of natural oils (argon, jojoba, olive and grapeseed oil)

5) What is your hair care routine? do you co-wash? (conditioner only) how often do you co-wash? do you blow dry or air dry? etc...

My hair care routine involves a 3 day wash/cleanse cycle.
Starting on Wednesday with an apple cider vinegar root cleanse and co-wash with my mixed chicks leave-in conditioner. After the wash I apply a mixture of my organics hair mayonnaise with my
Moisture intense leave in conditioner and rinse. Before styling or anything else I apply the organics olive oil deep treatment.
On saturdays I rinse my hair with a bit of the mixed chicks leave in and reapply only the organics products mixed together.

I detangle once every 2 weeks (counting from saturdays) with a wide tooth comb

I haven't applied heat to my hair since I cut it in august, so no blow driers :D

6) What are your favourite styling products?

My favourite products would be the natural oils and the organics products, they leave my hair smelling all kinds of scrumptious. LOL. People even tell me they could eat my hair.

7) What is your best kept hair secret?

Best kept hair secret would have to be that I've found a way to pineapple my hair to keep my curls. I look all kinds of crazy but my curls last forever when I do it.

8) (Please finish the sentence) My natural hair is beautiful because....?

My natural hair is beautiful because I stick to my regime. If I'm trying a new product and my hair doesn't feel good I immediately stop using the product until I think its safe.

9) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Natural hair seems like a task to people who don't have it. Don't let them discourage you from going back to your proverbial roots. Take it from someone who has had it their whole life. Yes, It takes some time getting used to but once you do it an easy road from there. Just be willing to put in the work to learn and you'll enjoy it. :)

Ultimate length Check

Hey Curlies..this is a big one. So I haven't done a length check since.. i don't know. until today 5 years post big chop, I know its been a long time coming but i'm uber excited y'all

So I washed my hair out from the Hot Oil Treatment which was in my previous post, and I decided to blow out my hair to see how long it has gotten.. and here it is!!! BSL (bra strap length)

its probably a little pass bsl but you can see for yourself

I'm enjoying my journey so far, i admitted there was some times when i felt like to cut the darn thing of cause it was easier short. but I like long hair and always have so why not just let it grow.

people have told me "oh you should relax it again now" or "just loc it" and I have thought about my options but I'm happy how my hair is now and its soooo VERSTILE!! the options are endless when it comes to natural hair.

I'll continue to keep you guys posted and I hope your enjoying your Journey as well.

Spring Hair Care

Hey Curlies , now that Spring has arrived. has your regimen changed? What are you doing to your hair to freshen up for the new season?

Spring Time. (the feeling is so fine)

Hey Curlies so its finally Spring !! and after the long hard cold winter I decided to add some much needed moisture back into my hair, by doing a Olive Oil Hot Oil Treatment. I left the treatment covered for and hour then shampoo as usual.

I Braided my hair to make applying the oil easier.

P.S I'll do a 4 year length check soon...:) its been a long time I know

Finally

Howdy do people!

It has been a minute since I last posted but I'm here now, piggy-backing on my neighbours WIFI #don'tjudgeme to come with my latest length check and product review. Since being back in JA I have been settling back into my routine and that included going to the beach ( though it is not my favourite place #notatruejamaican) which caused my hair and I lots of stress.

We went to Portie ( rich ppl talk for Port Antonio) a sleepy but beautiful town. Check out my awesome photography skills ( which consists of peoples heads, NOTHING of the town and random houses)

Typical me, going to the beach in jeans and drinking out the rum. THIS IS WHY YOU DO NOT INVITE ME OUT!

On to the hair.

Unfortunately, it was very windy at the beach so of course it got in my rum........and hair which was very annoying because I was not planning on washing my hair but then again I do not like waking up with sand in my bed.

You see the sand??

So I washed my hair with Tresemme Thermal Recovery shampoo and then used a new product I found called The Roots Naturelle Virgin Hair Fertilizer Conditioning Treatment. It is a really good protein treatment , but it tingles like crazy! Even after I rinsed my hands they were still burning/tingling so if you don't like peppermint don't use this!

I mixed it with my Giovanni Tea Tree Conditioner to stretch it. The instructions said 3-5 mins but I left it on for an hour (my hair is in dire need of protein) It left my hair really soft. I skipped the condish and went straight to styling.

So I used Naptural85's method and used Nubian Heritage Hair Reparative Butter. MENG! this thing is TOTES AMAHZING!!!! it smells GREAT and it makes my hair so soft! but I of course use waaaay too much so I end up with a greasy pillow.

The first three pictures are like the day after styling

(holding back a sneeze)

These are today after a workout with the style in for two weeks

Even after all that time I still have product in my hair ( probably due to my heavy hand) and its still soft.

Trust and believe you don't need that much.......... ah the smell.........hmmm........ so you know who' s buying this thing in bulk rite?

yesssssssss.

FOCUS!

Ok.... on to length check. My last one was back in October 2012

Not much of a length check but hey.

And here is todays check April 4th 2013

Since then, I have trimmed twice so it should be....at least two,three inches longer, but I have achieved my goal of bra strap (well in the back) length and I didn't even know!