Why Do Length Checks?

Every naturalista has at least heard of length checks if they haven't participated in a couple themselves. Let's dive into a few reasons about why people even care about length checks.

Choosing Hair for Crochet Braids

I've said this before and will say it again! I am not the best at choosing hair...AT ALL! I blog about natural hair with the hope that the things I learn along the way will help somebody somewhere...because I learned most of the things I know about my hair by trial and error! When it comes to picking hair for things like braided extensions, sew-ins, and crochet braids, I always have a ton of questions. I usually rely on my stylist to tell me what hair to get; any questions I have after that default to my sister. This time around was no exception!

Choosing A Crochet Style

How to Start

When you're a naturalista, protective styles become a saving grace! These styles give you a break from the hard work you have to put into maintaining a head full of natural hair. For the last couple of years, I've gotten protective styles each fall and winter. The colder months can be particularly harsh on the hair, so this is one of the influencing factors in my hairstyle decision making.

I spent most of the last year trying out different wedding hairstyles, but the year before that my protective style for the cold season was crochet braids. Crochets are an easy style to maintain! Since I loved the style so much, I decided to document the process this time around.

Quasi Length Check

57 Months Natural

It has been way too long since my last real length check! While I was taking my blog break, I tried to be mindful and jot down ideas here and there. I KNOW I took pictures of my hair with my length check shirt on, but so much has gone on over the course of the past few months. I've searched high and low for those photos and I can't seem to find them anywhere.

SO! The next time my hair is straightened, I'm going to get things rolling again with more routine length checks. I also need to get a post out to get my blogger legs back, so this post is more than a must.

Gearing Up For Change

Preparing For A Life Shift

I've blogged for three years. I was resistant to starting a blog because I didn't think it would be "successful". I thought, who would want to read what I have to say?...and that thought kept me from starting.

I eventually got over that by convincing myself that I would blog for me. Over the years, I noticed 3 things: 1. People I thought would be my biggest supporters, weren't. 2. People I thought wouldn't care, cared so much. And 3., Blogging can create a lane for new people in your life; allowing strangers you would have never met otherwise to become close by sharing stories over internet space. Dealing with those 3 things alone allowed me to become even more comfortable with blogging for me! Over the years, I created a space where I could document my hair journey and share what I was learning about my hair with others who were interested in being a part of this journey with me.

Protective Styling

Braided Updos

Before I moved to DC, I was in the salon every two weeks! I rarely got protective styles because I didn't care much for that look. It's been three years since that time and things have changed. What's changed, you ask? Let me explain.

A New Hair Routine

I have a home salon in North Carolina. Moving to DC made it almost impossible for me to see my cosmetologist like I need to. Now that I'm planning my NC wedding, I'm home more and I'm able to see my cosmetologist on a more regular basis.

My last visit to her salon was 2.5 years ago. In the fight for having and maintaining healthy hair, I have to change what was once routine, in more ways than one. My life is much different now than it was 2.5 years ago. Things are happening that I didn't correlate with the health of my hair, so I'm taking my advice and using these 6 things to get me back on the right track to having healthy hair.

6 Things To Consider When You Want Healthy Hair

The last time I saw my NC cosmetologist was in December 2013! I recently made an appointment with her after 2.5 long years, and the first thing we did was have a conversation about lifestyle changes and the health of my hair.

This conversation got me thinking about the many things that affect our hair and how it's so easy to get side tracked with routines that we forget about these correlations! With that in mind, let's review a few things so we can all be on the right track to healthier hair!

Wash Day Woes

6 Things To Remember When Wash Day Doesn't Go Well

We all have those wash days that don't go as well as we were expecting them to. I just had one recently. I was going to go into wash day and come right back out because I'd gotten my wash days down to a science, or so I thought. My hair had different plans for me that day. So, in the midst of my super long detangling session, there were a few things I wanted to share with people who find themselves in this situation.

February '16 Hair Check

NOT a Length Check

I took out my vacation crochet braids recently and felt now would be the right time for a hair check. It's not a length check, but a check to see how my hair now compares to my hair before the two sets of crochet braids.

3 Things To Remember With Crochet Braids

My Advice for Handling Crochet Braids

I've had two sets of crochet braids over the past 4 months. I loved them! After my first set of crochets, I noticed something a little different about my hair. I had a hard press, so my hair didn't normally look like it does after being straightened, but I thought something else was off with my hair.

When I got my second set of crochet braids, I decided to look at how I was managing my hair and took a few notes of things not to do when caring for crochet braids.

4 Years Strong

4 Year Naturalversary

I celebrated being 4 years natural on this past weekend (January 30th). I can remember making the decision not to get any more relaxers like it was yesterday! It's been a very long journey.There have been many ups and downs, but and I believe that I am just not making my greatest strides. I'm proud of myself for that and I'm proud of everything I've learned up to this point.

For this year's celebration, let's recap my year in hair.

Essential Oils

Trying Essential Oils on my Natural Hair

During my last length check, I talked about the thinning of my hair. Am I certain that my hair is thinning? I'm about 75% sure it's thinned out over the last couple of months. Since I feel this way, I've decided to do something about it! I've been thinking about using essential oils for a while and I figure now is a better time than ever. I'm sure you're wondering what an essential oil is, right?! Let's talk about it.

December '15 Length Check

47 Months Natural

It's been a whole half of a year since my last length check. I know I said I'd go longer amounts of time between length checks but I certainly didn't mean 6 months! Nevertheless, I'm here to dish deets about my hair and what's been going on since my last length check.

So, let's jump right on into the December length check!

Hair Products and Expiration Dates

Safe Hair Product Usage

I recently wrote about discovering why expiration dates on hair products are so important. So many questions followed that I had to do more research on the subject and follow up with another post. So, what did I find? This post holds all the information I found...just for you!!

One Big Hair Product Mistake!

Taking Care of Our Hair By Taking Care of Our Hair Products

I read an article a few months ago that I thought had some good information in it. I didn't really think it applied to me, so I didn't pay it too much mind. I'm sure we all do this. We think we can beat the odds, so we read the information but don't retain it. Right?! The article was about expiration dates on a number of things, including hair products. It encouraged users to get rid of hair products according to their expiration dates.

A Few Quick Tips For Crochet Braid Maintenance

How I'm Caring For My Senegalese Twists

I've had my twists for a month. I haven't had a hairstyle like this since the 4th grade when I had box braids! Before leaving the shop, I made sure to get some maintenance tips so I could be informed about how to care for the hair before being sent off to tend with it on my own. With that being said, here's a few things I've done to care for my natural hair during this first month.

Moisturize & Protect The Hair

One of the perks of having crochet braids has been accessibility to my scalp. I'm able to moisturize my roots and keep my scalp oiled. My hair didn't need much attention during its first week. I started moisturizing my roots and edges with one of my staple moisturizers, Creme of Nature Argan Buttermilk. Two days after I moisturized my hair, I oiled my scalp using Creme of Nature 100% Argan Oil.

Crochet Braid Senegalese Twists

2015 Winter Protective Style

The power of social media has introduced me to the best protective style I've ever worn! I'm very grateful so I want to share.

The Idea

This year things magically came together in a weird way. I'd always seen Senegalese twists and thought they were cute, but my edges are too tender for individual braids and twists (with extensions). I first saw this style on Instagram and that was my first time ever realizing you can do so much more with crochet braids besides crochet free hair.

Once I saw the style, I began researching (read Googling). Initially I thought I'd have to buy hair that would be twisted as it was crocheted. During my research I found out there was a such a thing as pre-twisted crochet Senegalese twists. My mind was blown!! This was the best thing that could ever happen to my hair. I would get my hair cornrowed and get pre-twisted hair crocheted into my braided hair to have a protective style I could wear for the harsh winter months.

One Secret To Keeping Your Hair Moisturized

Spin-Off Moisture Mixture

As long as I can remember, I've had issues with keeping my hair moisturized. Half of that time, my issues with dryness have been in my head. I'd go to the cosmetologist, tell her my hair felt dry, and she would tell me it was fine! I'm walking around thinking my hair feels like a box of rocks; other people feel it and tell me how soft it is! So, whether my dryness is real or imagined, I've always wanted to do something about it.

I was scrolling through Instagram one day and saw this post for a Max Moisture Recipe on We Are Onyx's page:

Beautiful Textures' products were my everything when I was transitioning. They did right by my hair, so when I saw this recipe included their conditioner, I was all for it!

My Revised Recipe

How To Use The Banding Method

African Hair Banding

Like many of the tests and techniques I've discussed recently, hair banding has been something I've heard of since the beginning of my natural hair journey. Also like everything else, I've never tried it. I'm stepping outside of many boxes, so I saw this technique and thought "why not?".

What is The Banding Method?

The Banding Method, also known as African Hair Banding, is a way to stretch natural hair without using heat. The basic concept of the method is to wrap sections of damp hair with some sort of "band". A "band" can be anything from hair scrunchies, to ribbons, rubber bands, strips of cotton, yarn, you name it! The list goes on and on and on!