Wrap-A-Loc curls, blog updated (new banner, loc regimen, everything!)

Hello lovely folks,

Well  I have finally updated my blog to reflect my hair's current status!

I used Wrap-A-Loc about 2 weeks ago to try curls and boy did I get my entire curl life!! Here is a quick summary of my thoughts.

PROS -
1) If you want curls, you are going to get neat, tight curls using this tool - it does what it promises!
2) There is no heat required if you have the patience to wait for hair to airdry (I didn't).
3) If you have short locs you can cut the long (size large) in two
4) Easy to use - there is definitely a learning curve to using the instrument but that is expected with everything
5) I've seen many people wear them in the locs for a few days before taking them down. I refuse to do this but if you can swing it then I've seen some pretty ingenious styling on Google Images (search "Wrap a loc").

CONS-
1) If you some how do it wrong and your curls don't drop (as only one side of my head did - not cute) then you need to somehow be flexible because those curls are here to stay! I chose to flat twist the side that did not drop to the other side and it worked out beautifully. I will try to do better my next attempt.
2) If you have a lot of locs, good luck to you! I have 87/90 locs and there is no way I was going to pay for 5 packs at $20 dollars a pop on my student budget...I cut the large ones this time around. That'll do till I can fund as many as I need (maybe I'll take up a collection).

These are before I separated (did 2 locs to one wrap a loc tool)

Separated and pinned to side (other side was a failure hehe)

loc update - I am 2 years in

Hola whoever is out there at this point!

Life has really taken over my blogging aspirations. Anyhoo August 14 2011 I installed loc extensions to my hair after a weak 6 months trying to transition to natural. I had decided if I wanted to remain chemical free and sane I needed to ease myself in with a style that wasn't too demanding and wouldn't take too much out of me. Ha!

My loc journey hasn't been like others but it has been something. First, the poorly installed extensions that had me going crazy the first year and half of this experience. Too small pieces with too heavy extensions pulling on my ends and giving me alopecia related nightmares. Then the numerous untrained "professional" locticians; all deaf to my opinion, doing their own thing in my head, forcing me to once again become self stylist (I was happily my own hair care specialist with relaxed hair - mostly successfully). Then the BC of the extensions leaving me with the challenge of styling short locs; something I never intended to try. Oh LORD then the questions of why did you do it, you had such lovely hair, UGH. My experience has been something. 

I had to learn to love my locs - it wasnt love at first sight. Learn to love the matting, learn to be okay with foreign matter in my hair, learn to love the texture. Certainly learn to love them enough to not care what others were thinking and to feel like it was okay to be like this, rocking locs, while still being me. 

Today I am just happy because my locs now make it into a ponytail and look kinda njce! This is a pic of it. Hasn't been retwisted in 4 weeks (& counting) but still loving it. 

Will follow up with a regimen post :)

An update to surpass all updates

Where has Shar been? I couldn't begin to tell you the full story. I am just going to try to update you as best as possible.

So you know I was attempting to transition and failing miserably - after 6 months I texlaxed. That was April 2011. Then I texlaxed again in June 2011. Then I really just wasn't happy with my hair. I didn't like the relaxed ends anymore, I was annoyed at the texlaxed part cause they looked odd and dry - not quite natural, not quite relaxed.

After hemming and hawing, I sat down for 14 hours last Sunday and had loc extensions installed. Yup. How am I liking them? I love the idea of them - don't care what persons with locs say about the "journey." That's the good part about my journey - it's mine, so you can sniff at my extensions all you want. In 2 years, you'll have nothing to sniff at. Now why did I specify I liked the IDEA of them? Well cause them babies are irritating the skin off me!!! My scalp is irritated and itching. The lady installed them too tight so I was in pain Monday and Tuesday. They have loosened since but I think the tightness bruised my scalp because spraying Sea Breeze burns it. Then I use oil sheen. For now, that's all I'm doing.

This weekend I plan to make an oil spray with my hot6 and castor oil.

I can't wash these babies for 3 more weeks so I better sit still and embrace the itch. Can your body/scalp be allergic to human kinky hair? **sigh** Anyhoo, for the pretty penny I paid, these aren't going anywhere.

So there you are! All updated! The next thing I owe you - photos. Good news - finally got a camera so we are in business.

Hope you have been having happy & fruitful hair journeys. Leave me a comment and let me know how it's going!

Long overdue update

So I quit lol...my natural journey became a texlaxed journey yesterday. I did 1/4 cup EVOO in 1 cup Motions relaxer. 6 months to the day.

This is why I did it:

1. I was rocking buns constantly because braid outs and twist outs took waaaay too much time and didn't last past 5-6 hours. My buns were cute but everyday made me feel BLAH

2. The length of time washing and detangling was taking. I definitely was not looking forward to battling my 4/5/6 month roots each week.

3. I just was not enjoying the transition process. Except the curious feel of my roots, that is. That was nice :) and the feeling that I did not need a darn relaxer...

...till it turned out that I did cause I don't wanna be bothered with the time consuming process.

Now it's texlaxed, I feel great! Hopefully I can still see the thickness when I have more texlaxed hair.

Result of my 6 month stretch? Damaged relaxed ends. I know 24/7 buns sound like a treat for my ends but no, in fact they look awful. So Friday, I'm going to get them trimmed - hope not too much. Then I shall share length check.

FYI - my bff did the opposite of me and did a BC :-D She looks FAB!! She is loving her hair and getting used to caring for it.

Truth of the matter

My hair and I are merely coexisting.

There is no love anymore because I don't know what to do with it now that it has about 2 inches of thick, curly roots. Ok, I did texlax it but the texlax is soooo light everyone thinks it is just natural (and trust me it feels and looks that way besides I haven't done that since December). My default style is straight so I feel like I should go get blow outs but what is the purpose of weekly blow outs? Is that better than a relaxer? My other option is braids, weaves, or wigs but honestly, I don't really want to do that...this texlax/natural journey is stealing my hair swag :-/

Day 2 of curls

Forgot to take a day 3 pic but I'm still rocking the curls today so I'll update y'all. I am pleased with this style.

Curls on 4 months post hair

I haven't relaxed since Oct 15th...so I'm somewhere at 4 months post.

My hair qas a BEAST to detangle but patience is key. A friend suggested a detangler...Any recommendations?

I may go purchase material and sew headbands. The scarves in the store are so silky I think they're gonna slip right off my head. I think cotton and cotton blends may work best. I'm gonna do some research.

Anyhoo, I was very proud of my curls yesterday :-) I am not loving that Jason poo - makes my hair feel like locs I swear

Week 19 update

Sooo, what's been going on?

1. I kicked the Nature's Gate Organics Herbal Blend Moisturizing Conditioner - Chamomile and Lemon Verbena to the curb. I'll be going to get my HE LTR leave in again because I have yet to discover anything that works as well.

2. The roots are kicking! And because I have to be using the IC fantasia gel daily to get my buns slick, I do vinegar rinse or use my new shampoo each week because I feel I have a lot of product build up. For shampoo, I use the Jason Aloe Vera 84% Shampoo. I've only used it once. It's ok so far. At least I don't have all those sulfates and alcohols in my hair. I must say I thought my hair felt I little straw-like after but I'll be using it for awhile so I'll see how I grow to like it.

3. I've discovered 2 other site I'm frequenting these past few weeks:

Mummy's Girl

TaterTotz Public Fotki

They're giving me courage that I can handle these 2 textures for a year or more. I def don't think I texlaxed right cause my roots are very curly but, I think I'm keeping it. I love it!

Here are some pics... on the weekend I try to do something with my hair but in the week, it is strictly buns. As it warms up, I will do scarfs or so to stop all the gel action. My poor hedges :(

Week 15 Update

First my wig...Oakland Girl by FreeTresses.

I got the wig. Tried it on and was super super impressed. I could hardly believe how natural it looked. But alas, I think I'll save it for special occasions because I haven't mastered the whole scarf then wig cap thing - it kept sliding off. Plus I messed with it all day the 2 days I wore it. Distracting. Always checking if it was on correctly and running to the bathroom.

Yes ppl, it's my face again. It pops up every now and again.

Then my hair....holy roots!

Last night during my detangle, I was just super overwhelmed by my hair. I know it has some texlax to it but it is very very slight. Actually it just prolly makes my hair another natural texture. It is nowhere near a normal texlax. I like it that way but I think calling it texlaxed is super misleading. I will be taking pics of my texture as soon as I have a working camera. These pics have all been taken with my iPhone...

Anyhoo, I bought a couple new prods in the last month. So here are the reviews:

1. Nature's Gate Jojoba Revitalizing Conditioner for damaged hair

I always buy prods for damaged hair so my hair can get mucho nutrients. I've been using this for the last 3 weekends. I don't DC with it, I condish with it after my DC. It really softens my hair and makes detanging a breeze. One weekend I ran the comb through my hair in the shower it was so soft. I almost never do that - I have been detangling in 6 or so sections recently. I think I'm gonna start washing in plaits pretty soon. Anyhoo, all I can say is I double triple recommend this conditioner (even tho it has cetyl alcohol...).

2. John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum Extra Strength formula

Yea, like I said, I always get the strongest protection or whatever for my hair. I got this because I decided to be bold and flat iron my hair last weekend. I airdried with only it in my hair and then used my IC fantasia heat protectant and flat ironed in tiny pieces with one pass on the second to highest setting. It took forever. I did okay for my first time - The roots weren't as flat as I'd like. Also, my flat iron is a cheapo (Bed Head Tigi) so I may hold off flat ironing till I can get something better. I do think it was too small...I couldn't bump my hair. Maybe I need a bigger one to do bumps??? Next time I want straight hair, I'll go to the salon. I have no complaints about this product but I am no pro so what can I say...

Because my hair was still thick at the roots, I had to put it up. This bun made me proud all day!!! Used those 2 small combs at the side and pins :)

3. Nature's Gate Organics Herbal Blend Moisturizing Conditioner - Chamomile and Lemon Verbena

I am using this as a leave-in. Used it last night to detangle...worked fine. It is def not as thick as my HE LTR leave-in so I felt shafted for some reason but it worked well I think to detangle my hair. Won't say anything yet re: recommendations since I only used it once.

Soooo, in other news, the back of my hair felt like a dry matted mess last night before my wash. This week, I will be trying to do my spray at least every other day to lock in moisture.

What I did...

Spent hours reading. The most important reads?

Beginners Guide to Texlaxing - Assoc Content

How to Texlax - Assoc Content

Happy Hair Journey

Detangled the braided hair with mix of V05 silky moisture conditioner, water, JBCO and based with honey shield.

Then instead of 1/8 cup oil for one kit/tup relaxer I did 1 cup relaxer (I have a huge tub of Motions lye) and 1 cup conditioner. Yup! Equal parts. I want to be as natural as possible because I haven't given up yet. Matter of fact, now it's all rinsed out, it doesn't look much different from my natural hair. It WAS easier to comb though.

This is when I took those blasted braids out

After my texlax

Failure #1

This transition is not as easy as I thought. I skipped my birthday relaxer which was a shocker in itself. But then I needed a plan. I felt like I have read everything on the internet but nothing's helping. Why? I don't think any of those successful naturalistas have my hair and I have read months worth of information. Where is my hair type? Even I'm not sure what that is :-( Anyhow, eventually I decide to get braids with human hair (wet n wavy was suggested to me by braider). So this past Friday (Dec 24th) I got them in and I thought they were tight but she insisted she wasn't doing them tight. Hmm, ok.

So Sat goes by and they're uncomfortable but my friend was nice enough to keep massaging my scalp. Then comes Sunday. I bear them well enough. Then the itching started. I mean it wouldn't stop. So after good ole fashion itching for hours, I decide to use warm water. Didn't work. Then the sprays - oil sheen and oils. Didn't work. Then a hot rag. Nope. So first thing I do in my frustration is remove the four tightest at the front - there is like NO hair there - what the hell did she even braid??! Then I remove the five at the back. Then I say flip this! I don't care how much I spent, me and my hair will not suffer for it.I took em all out 3 days after I had em put in. The end. Braids are not for me. So I am about to spend some hours on the internet now reading about texlaxing/texturizing, and other ideas because braiding is OUT and so is a full on relaxer.

Sorry my blogs are few and far between. I guess as more starts happening it'll pick up. Also, work and sch have been quite the chore. Hope all the hair journeys are going well :-)

No relaxer next week

That is something I know for sure. I will see how the rest of the year and 2011 progresses.

I am nervous to even say it because I know I may not stick with it - I have hair frustration when the strands are cooperating. So I may give up. I won't lie. But it is time to make an attempt at no relaxing.

Right now my plan is ponytails and curls until the roots become unmanageable then braids. Same regimen of weekly DCs and mild protein. Strong protein every 2-3 months. I'll update the side bar. I need to find a sulphate-free poo or just stick with ACV rinses for now.

One interesting reaction from a friend of mine: "I can see why so&so (a friend of mine with a looser hair type) would go natural but not you (yours truly). Your hair is real black hair."

My reaction: well I'm glad it is since I am black after all *internally flipping her the bird*