Eating My Words...

I know I posted that I would not be styling my hair like this any more:

Well, I changed my mind. It won't be exactly like the above style, but you know what that style lasted me a week, and I need something with staying power. Plus, I can't wear my hair like this for church...I have worn the Bantu knot, pick-out, swoop, a fro-hawk-esque disaster, and my hair pulled back and pinned up...

I need something more protective this week. By the way, I'm going to get my ends trimmed next weekend.

I'll post pictures of whatever style is born today.

Happy Sunday!!

I AM not MY HAIR... ((I Am Not My Hair--India Arie (Bonus: Remix w/ Akon)))

"And I Know My Creator Didn't Make No Mistakes On Me!" ((VIDEO-India Arie))

Today's Style: Yes, I'm Still Doing the Bantu Knot Out

I guess this is a bantu knot, pick-out, swoop.  IDK.  Work with me!  : )

Hey Check out my new growth (below)...normally this is something I'd try to camouflage, but since I want to show the great difference between the thickness of my 'relaxed' hair and the thickness of my natural hair texture.  This is why some of my transitional twist ups look really bare and 'thin' compared to the styles done by ladies with completely natural hair texture.  And, no, I've never had my hair colored.  I think my 'relaxed' hair has just been lightened from the relaxer and the sun.

Still Transitioning...Some Styles Along the Way

Same Style, inspired by Mahogany Knot's "Billie"

This style was inspired by Mahogany Knot's "Billie."  My 'relaxed' hair is much thinner than my natural hair (my next post will have a picture showing the obvious difference in thickness).  I liked it and I got a lot of compliments on it. (02/09/11)



This is just a style I happened upon.  I was blasé about it at first, but it grew on me.  I don't know if I'll wear it again though.  What I really like about this style was that it lasted a long time.  I wore it for a week.  2.12.11



This was a Bantu Knot Out that I pinned under because my hair is cut in layers, and my shorter layers were not being so compliant to smoothing.  Thus, I allowed them to be fuller while pinning down and under my lower, longer layers.  I finished it off with a wide headband.  (02/22/11)

The Same Bantu Knot Out (and headband), pulled back into a loose french braid "inspired" pin-up.

Here's the Happs!

Sooo, I got my last relaxer touch-up in November 2010 and I promised myself that I would stretch out my relaxer until February 2011.  That would max me out at a full 12 week stretch...the longest I've ever gone without a touch up.  Well, I didn't even know how I would survive the stretch--you have no idea how many times I just wanted to call my beautician and tell him I need a touch up, PRONTO! 
BUT I made it!  "YAY ME" and believe it or not, I now really want to commit to transitioning back to my natural hair texture.  ((3c,4b; I think))
What got me here is PERM BURN.  I am so tired of these little sores and scabs I get after most touch ups.  I admit I scratch, I scratch like I breathe.  It's second nature.  And I never get an urge so strong to scratch until the few days before I'm scheduled for a touch up.  I've tried Sulfur 8, greases of all kinds, washing my hair the week before (which does work, but sometimes my schedule wouldn't allow for me to do so)...I've tried it all. And it's got me thinking, what's so awful about being natural: without chemical alteration to permanantly straighten my hair?  And I created a long list (Oh, believe me!) of "awful" things about being natural, and not being relaxed.  But of all of the things I put, the one pro was NO PERM BURN.  That trumped the list.  Hands down.  So here begins my journey.

However, I'm doing it my way:  NO BC (Big Chop, Big Cut)  I just can't do that...it's not for me.  The only other option is to transition.  THANK GOD FOR YOUTUBE.

So, I've set up this blog to chronicle my transition back to MY NATURAL BEAUTY.

My New Growth (natural) Unstretched

My New Growth (natural) Stretched