Side Braid.

Hey, Doll's Here's a very easy to do protective style perfect for those times when you just don't have the time to co-wash/twist/wait/untwist/fluff/pin/etc Hope this helps xoxo Erika

What a Difference a Year Makes..

Hey Dolls, Here is my very long overdue 1 year Nappy update. I know what you are thinking, but Erika you big Chopped in February and it's April. Well, what had happened wasss......... Ok long story short I was being lazy. I learned a lot about my hair last year and I hope to continue to learn even more this year.My goals are simple, keep my hair healthy and don't be so quick to grab the scissors. I also would like to experiment with styling my own hair more now that it's finnally "long enough" to try some of those amazing styles i've seen all over youtube. Anyway enough chit chat lets get to the good stuff. I went from this (Feb 2011)

to this(dec 2011)

and now this(April 2012)

Here's a look at my loose hair From this(Feb 2011)

to this (Dec 2011)

and now this (April 2012)

Here are some of my favorite protective/low manipulation styles Wigs

BOx Braids

Kinky twists

Phony Pony

Yet Another Post about Kinky Twists!

I just wanted to share my fave new way of styling my kinky twists! it reminds me of


Anyway here's where the original inspiration came from:


I just tweaked it a bit because I didn't really like the swoop bangs with the twits but I might have to revisit this when I take the twists out, just gotta figure out how to acheive this look with shorter hair, but I think I can come up with a few things!

Winter Hair Regimen

This is long overdue But this is what I will be doing this winter to my hair! I will probably update this post once I get my Terresentials Mud Wash in but until then here you go!!1

This winter I plan to keep my hair in protective stlyes 90% of the time.

Here’s a quick rundown
1. Kinky Twists for 4-6 weeks
2. Let my hair rest for 1-2 weeks in between installations
a. Wash/co wash once a week
b. Wear hair in twists to for stretching 5 days
c. Enjoy hair in a low manipulation style for 2 days a week

Let me break it down!!

Here’s a video on my Kinky twist regimen:


While my hair is out in between installs :
WashDay Week 1:
DC on dry hair adding and egg to my condtioner for protein
Rinse
Clarify my scalp to remove any excess bulild up
Oil rinse
Apply a rinse out condtioner to remove any excess oils.
Apply leave-ins/ moisturizers and seal
Let hair air dry in medium size twists to prevent SSKS and to stretch hair slightly
Keep hair in twists 5 days were hair out 2 days(twist out, braid outs, puffs, bantu knot outs)
Spritz hair every few days to keep it moisturized

WashDay Week 2
Dc on dry hair
Rinse
Oil rinse
Co wash
Apply a rinse out condtioner to remove any excess oils.
Apply leave-ins/ moisturizers and seal
Let hair air dry in medium size twists to prevent SSKS and to stretch hair slightly
Keep hair in twists 5 days were hair out 2 days(twist out, braid outs, puffs, bantu knot outs)
Spritz hair every few days to keep it moisturized

WashDay Week 3
Video for kinky twist pre-install prep


Product Rundown*I’ll add links to product reviews as I write them*
= holy grails

Leave-ins
Kinky Curly Knot Today
Giovonni Direct Leave-in 
Oyin Handmade Hair Dew
Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp

Moisturizers
Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding
Bee Mine Luscious

Spritz
Oyin Handmade Jucies and Berries
Bee Mine Juicy
Spray Bottle(Leave-in, H2O ,Oil)

Stylers
Eco Gel Argan Oil
Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter
Oyin Handmade Shine and Define


Sealants/Oils
Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade
Coconut Oil 
Conditioners(dc= deep condtion, ro= rinse out)
Bee Mine bee-u-ti-fu (dc)
Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp(dc, ro)
Yes to Carrots Daily Pampering  (dc,ro)


These are all products in my current stash, but most are just sample sizes! After using them up I will decide what I want to purchase full size bottle of and what I can live without.

APL by 2012

So this is a challenge on LHCF that I am going to join! Through out my journey to natural hair I haven't really been too concerned with length as much as I have been with over all health of my hair, but now that I am a year into it I really want to buckle down and focus on growth.

Here are the challenge guidelines(copied from LHCF)

Join the challenge by clicking "thanks" on this post and I'll add you to the list.
The challenge will officially begin on December 31, 2011 and run til December 31,2012.
The challenge is open to join at any time. No cut off date!
Post pictures with updates, PS ideas, and and anything else hair related that you'd like to share.
STAY POSITIVE!! We're all on a HHJ so let's lift each other up and help out whenever we can.
***Update Dates***




March 31st
June 30th
September 30th
December 31st

For challengers wanting to join, after thanking this post answer the following questions.


Good luck everyone!!!

~Current hair length--5 1/2 inches(NL)
~Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Loc'd--- Natural
~APL goal month---Dec 2012
~Current Reggie and styling choices--- kinky Twits
~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL? keep protective styling be more careful with detangling. Only wear my hair in stretched styles to prevent knots.
~Post a beginning picture

How I install Kinky Twists!!

Kinky Twist:: part 1 DC and Detangle

I was inspired to do this little series by one of my beautiful transitioning cousins. Since I'm one of only 2 naturals in my family extremely large extended family questions about natural hair usually defer to me.

So i started to thing what tips would I give to a transistioner to help them along ,and my number one piece of advice is find a style that you like and that makes you feel like yourself. If you don't feel cute you won't want to last long in your transistion.
Kinky twists are a great protective style and the first video in the series is all about what to do before you actually install the hair.

Date Night!!

Hey Dolls,

Caleb and I had a much needed date night last night. We went to Longhorn and then to see The Hangover 2. It was soooooo funny! It's definitely a must see if your not easily offended. Anyway Here are a few pics of the night.





The dress is from Charlotte Russe, 19.99 and the Shoes are from Burlington Coat Factory also 19.99. My hair is just slicked back and I have a fake bun on(separate post coming soon)!

I was getting bored with my Real Hair so...

I cut out some bangs...



I know what you're thinking Yes I am still trying to grow my hair out, but in the mean time I still want to be able to enjoy the sucess that I have had. I kept the long enough to swoop to the side incase I regret cutting them later, but I wanted to go a little shorter. I think this high bun will be a great look for the summer, and tmrw I want to try bantu knots. Until then...

Peace
So Much Love
Erika

Protective Styles!

Crochet Braids. I remember I use to get these when I was younger, they were never like his, but I use to love them. She doesn't cut her hair in half which I don't understand that's why her's is so super long and heavy looking, but other than that I want to try it.

New Hair!

Ok so i just ordered this from clairhair.com. It is the Freetress Equal Ciara wig. I tried to post a link directly to it, but it won't let me. I am computer dumb, but here is the side and back views





I'll do a video when it comes to let you know. I love wigs on this site, but I have never ordered from them so I will also let you know how that goes.

Peace
So much Love
Erika

How to get Healthy Hair, pt 2

Ok so now you have your regiment and your products, you need a protective style. Protective styles are low/no manipulation hair styles that keep ends tucked away or up off of you clothing. Since the ends of the hair are the oldest and weakest part they should be treated like silk. Keeping your ends happy and healthy is the best way to retain length. Having a protective style is a key component in starting your hair journey. Now of course there are many low manipulation styles you can wear with your hair down, but I would advise most beginners to stick with the protective styles at least until your hair is healthier, and then you can try as many roller sets and Bantu knots and braid outs as you like.

Some of the most common examples of protective styles are buns, pony tails, wigs, sew-ins and braids. Just remember with the latter you still have to care for your real hair underneath. My protective style of choice are wigs. I love wigs because you get the look of freshly relaxed and curled/flat ironed hair without actually having to use heat. I also love wigs because you can get them in so many different styles and colors and textures. I usually keep my hair under my wigs braided in 2 French braids, I can’t cornrow to save my life. Each night I take the braids down and moisturize with HE none of your Frizzness(I don’t think they make it anymore) and seal with my oil mix. In the morning I spritz it with my aloe vera, rosewater, glycerin, neem oil spray and put my wig cap on and my wig and go.

If you are not comfortable with wigs you can also go the sew-in/braids route. The one thing I want to stress with that is make sure you keep your hair under moisturized and your scalp clean! One of the biggest reasons I prefer wigs is that I’m not sure that I can keep my hair moisturized under the sew-in well enough o not have any setbacks but a lot of woman do it every day so it is possible. Just do your research.

Then there is of course the bun. This is probably the easiest and most common protective style, but for a lot of us women with shorter hair buns are not always the easiest or cutest styles for us. For that I would suggest trying a Phony Pony or a clip on bun. I also found this method on youtube. Check it out. This woman has some amazing videos so check here channel as well:



If you already have long hair, or if you want to spice up a boring bun, check out this video. It is a great Bun tutorial, and she has many more on her page. She has great tips to jazz up plain buns.