Hair Failure

      I titled this blog "Hair Failure" because I leave for NY in two days and my hair is lacking mini twists. I started them but failed to finish. The week was a little stressful and busy. Or I just wasn't committed as my sister would say. Here's a picture of the few I completed. 

I ended up taking them out after two days of no progress. While they were in, I had my hair in a puff. 

Another hair failure was my up-do for the holiday party. I had no time to put curlformers in my hair and dry them before styling so I settled on something very easy. I did a high puff with three twists in the front. Nothing fancy. 

I hope everyone's holiday is going well. 

Love and Peace

Aku

Curl Enchancing Smoothie/ Curlformer Dupes

        Last week, I YouTubed Curl Enhancing Smoothie Wash'n Go and I found a video of a YouTuber who doused her co-washed wet hair with the smoothie. She hopped out the shower and diffused her hair without any other product and she was loving the results. Her hair was nice and defined and no gel was used. I had no idea what to do with my hair. Last month I bought pretend Curlformers. I loved them but they took longer than I imagined. I ended up  pulling my hair back with a large claw clip thingy and I quickly reverted my hair to a semi-natural (3rd pic) state with water and Aussie Conditioner once the day was over.

Got this sweatshirt last year in NY!

Reverted hair

 So I didn't want to do the curlformers agian and I didn't want to douse my hair in gel. So I thought the Curl Enhancing Smoothie wash'n go would be great. It was cool for a day but soon I realized my hair wasn't feeling it. I was not like the girl in the video. I had knots everywhere and my hair felt gross and I believe it was all the protein. Not sure but I won't do it again. 

I have a flight for NY coming up this month...the last time my natural hair was in NY, it was not good. It was so off, granted I brought almost no products thus making my hair life sucky. NY for Thanksgiving was tough and my hair was the icing on the cake. We shall cross that bridge when we get to it. This week I will be attending a Christmas Party for my fiance's squad. 

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY HAIR. Do I have time to try curlformers again, will a wash'n go suffice? I have been YouTubing and I'd like to do an up-do, lol yes my hair is so short, what can I possibly be talking about. I have a few things in mind. Plus when my hair is super stretched I can pull it into a ponytail.

Wash Day Link up

Peace & Love

Is the Holiday Season getting to anyone else? So many things to do

Moisture/Protective Style/Scab Hair?

      I'm excited this year because I will be spending the winter in the south. Slightly warmer than what I am used to. Two things: I can't stop playing in my hair, specifically the damaged area. The area that started the downfall of my relaxed hair. The second thing: Perhaps I'm using too much protein? The touching of my hair...I don't know how to stop, even when I don't do it, I don't feel proud just the same when I do play in my hair, I don't feel guilty. I think I'm being careful...but that can't be right. The only way I know how to combat this issue is by protective styling. However, I just need to stop because once the protective styling is done, I'll be back at it. I always do learn things the hard way. Perhaps if I get a bald spot, then I'll stop? Let's not let it come to that. 

I 

The left side is damaged and it is shortest. Measuring
about 4 inches compared to 6-8 inches all over my head.

      I know the pic makes me look crazy because my hair looks uniform but it is not. I want to leave my hair alone and just keep trimming till everything matches. January twenty-something makes 12 months no relaxer. My hair grows a decent amount so 4 inches makes no sense. Granted I have been snipping those stupid single strand knots and splits. I am sad about this stubborn section. It may be from years and years of relaxing...scab hair? Fine, whatever it is, it needs to change. I thought cutting my hair would cure all my issues...>_>. I see kinky twists and unused protein products in my immediate future. More water in my body fo'sure.

Peace & love

Ever heard of scab hair? 

Aku

Wash and Go?

          Happy November Everyone! I can't believe the year is coming to an end. Time flies. So we are a week into November and I've been working on Wash and Go's. The gel part really throws me off and I didn't quite understand the concept. But after watching YouTube and doing a few, I think I get it. With a wash and go, you perverse defined curls using gel, no need to twist, stretch or braid hair, I believe curls are most defined when wet. So wash and gel and just go and allow your hair to just air dry. The first wash and go I did at the end of October (I can't seen to replicate it because I haven't been writing down hat I've been doing) I really liked. I didn't have to touch my hair for a few days. 

This last one I divided my hair into four sections and:

• Prepooed and detangled in a hour with Coconut Oil and Theorie Argan Oil Ultimate Repair Mask
• Scrubbed my scalp with Shea Moisture Curl and Shine Shampoo
• Rinsed, Applied Biolage Matrix Conditioning Balm and my oil mix (avocado, apricot, coconut, castor and EVOO)
• Rinced that out and added a little Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
• And then...GEL. LOTS OF ALOE VERA GEL. Gel in each section, gel everywhere!

I tried using Naptural85's wash and go method because it seemed like the simplest one. I used a blow dryer the first time but decided I rather just 'go'.

Fresh Wash and Go. Hair was super wet. (Phone Camera)

2nd Day Hair. Photos from camera phone

That Theorie gives me life! 

2nd Day shot from my camera

Camera pic

      I hope everyone's weekend is going well. So far I have no complaints. I visited the shooting range with my expert shooter fiance and partook in a festival going down in the area. No pictures of the festival, however, I really enjoyed myself. It's going to be a long weekend with Veteran's Day around the corner. Hope all is well!

Wash Day Experience link-up hosted by Saving Our Strands and Just Grow Already. 



Peace and Love
Aku

East Georgia (Mostly) (Video+pics)

Hilton Head, SC. 

        Hi! Hello Everyone! Izzy has left, sad face. Once she arrived in NY she created a wonderful video of her visit. Very Artsy. Love Love Love the video. Please Enjoy!

Memorial Garden at the Mighty Eight Air Force Museum

We have a thing for frozen treats

We're a gaming family. 

Izzy at one of the many souvenir shops

       There's something about touring places in the south. Perhaps, it's because I am from New York, but certain things would not be found in NY the way they are found in Georgia. Somewhat of a culture shock. A lot of the places have deep roots that were unfun times for people of color back in the day. Not sure how to decipher it.

Anyways, check out the video, it's a real mood brightener
Aku Oji

My Life Now: Short Natural Hair

        I woke up this morning, and thought about my current life situation and my hair crossed my mind. I also woke up and decided to watch some YouTube videos. It can be a guilty pleasure at times. I stumbled upon NaturallyNellzy. I like her talks about random stuff more than hair stuff (maybe hair stuff later). She said something about women with short hair being the most confident, something of the sorts. I've heard others mention how much guts and confidence it takes to walk around with natural short hair. Frankly, I was very concerned about having short hair. I jokingly say that I have "no hair"(some call me dramatic). 

        I've been out and about this past week with my sister. Some days I am conscious about my hair and sometimes I am confident about it. When I am getting ready to go out, I absolutely love my hair. I simply take my bonnet off moisturize, seal and go outside. When I am conscious, I think about how people see my hair and what they wonder about it. I never put too much thought into wondering these things because my hair was one way, a more easily accepted way according to this society. But now my hair is kinky, curly, tightly packed at times, it grows up and out. Anyways I wonder these things. 

        

An empty

Everyday style for the past week

       I am not quite sure if this hair fits me, personally, I think it's very fitting on me. I don't know, short hair can't work for everyone but I think it's working for me?  Maybe grown out hair will be my look? So, I have to try it before I stick with short. The goal is to grow my hair out so...not sure. I think the consciousness will pass, but it comes up a lot in my head when I have interviews. Especially since I want to work one-on-one with people because I'm convinced I'm a people person (I am). I obviously don't want to work with or for anyone who finds my appearance not up their "standards." I would hate for that to be a reason not to get a job but we live in funny times. Some looks are more acceptable than others, you guys already know. I love my hair but I'd be silly to think everyone else will like it and that's the thing, will my life be different because of hair? All I know is, if someone doesn't like it, kindly get over yourself, especially in a work setting.  

      I am natural, look at that. The best thing has to be not getting or planning a relaxer touch-up. I always knew that I did not want to be relaxing my hair for years and years to come, I did not want to spend money on relaxers and the amount of money I have already spent on relaxers!!! Gee Willerkers. I say all this to say, I do think short hair requires some form of confidence, whether you don't care what anyone thinks or you know you look great. 

Anyways, just some thoughts. Posts on my sisters visit/East Georgia exploration coming soon.

Peace and Love 

Guess Who's Coming to Town?! (+hair pics)

This was almost two years ago

Guess who's paying little ol' me a visit!? My little (3 years younger) sister, Izzy! YAY! Being far away from home can be very hard at times, sort of isolated from the world I once knew. I have three younger sisters all uniquely cool in their own way.

This is Izzy's first vacation and I want it to be great. Shopping, museums, eating out- a nice cultural vacation the best I know how (since I'm still new to Georgia myself). This vacation will hopefully be a good way to check out the town. The weather will be better (no offense to my New Yorkers) than the typical New England weather so maybe we can hit the beaches too!

First stop is a waffle house. I know, I know, how can I take her to a Waffle House when there are so many places to eat out here? But I think waffle houses are a staple down south.

conditioner/leave-in, water and oil.

I'm around two months BC, not sure. I came to terms that I am not attached to my big chop date. I often forget, I say around two months because I'm not too sure the exact date. Still trying to figure out the needs of my natural hair. I think I will keep it slightly stretched because I learned the hard way that my hair can become dry and extremely tangled (extremely) when I do nothing after washing and conditioning it.

New hair, same issue. Finding the perfect moisturizer. Right now, I use Matrix Conditioning Balm to pre-poo, over-night condition and leave-in. I bought it when I was deep into my transition (lol 6 months deep) and I didn't care for it to provide much moisture to my hair. But now, I make great use of it with my current hair.

Here's my hair after stretching for a couple of hours. Huge twists and some Ouch-less scrunchies. I don't twist or band my hair to the ends because I love the curly ends. Oh and after the trip to the barber, washing my hair and detangling has been oh so easy. Those ends were tired.

This is my hair. I think there's some henna
in it, not sure about my natural brown anymore

Slightly stretched texture shot

5 days to get ready for my Izzy's visit. So excited! *throws confetti*

Has anyone been to Georgia?
Any winning moisturizers?
Peace & Love,
Aku

October- Shape-Up at Barbershop/Changes

      Changes are coming. I'm feeling a little inspired. I just cut my hair and I am still very lost with it so I find it hard to write about. I also want to blog about moving to a new city and in order to do that, I need to explore. I've volunteered for three organizations, just trying to find the right fit. The weather has been great here in the southeast. More to come! Enjoy some pictures!

The day before my shape-up. Random pic of ice-cream
 from a festival this past weekend.

In the car right after the cut. Big hair, don't care?

Really, really old school

The next morning, I appreciated my cut even more.

Any barbershop goers in the house? 

Peace and Love

Aku

Seven Month Transition- BIG CHOP!!!

I just love this shirt! Wacky twist-out, I love it too!

     After seven months of going without a relaxer, is it still a big chop? No matter, my relaxed and texlax hair are all gone! I carried on for a two weeks, begging my fiance to cut my hair and then chickening out. Of course I couldn't cut it myself and I really didn't want to. He took his time, went section by section and cut appropriately. He likes the cut and I like that he likes it. I feel flipping great and proud of hair, it's been a while since I enjoyed my hair.

     It's been about two months since I blogged. I have  moved cross-country, got engaged (!!!) and finished my Master's!!! I've been down south for a month and slowly but surely getting used to things. I'm trying to figure out what I should volunteer for and what organizations to join while on the hunt for a job/career (preferably HR Admin Assistant to start)

      I thought it would be a good idea to cut my hair now because I do have free time on my hands at the moment. Lots of compliments and the ones who don't like it, don't say anything for now. I wasn't really shocked about my short hair. I kinda think I pull it off pretty well. After my cut, I green-housed over night and I put twists in my hair the next day for a twist-out. Twist-out on my TWA, three-five inches of confused hair is a work in progressed. At night I gathered 10 chunks of hair and slipped an Ouchless scunchie over each chunk. I refuse to re-twist every night (for now).

      I am eager to try out all types of hair styles. I really can't believe I was scared to cut my hair. The thought of it literally made my pulse speed up. I drove myself nuts. I wish I had cut sooner but either way I am happy. 

The next morning hair still in big bunches. Edges
laid with just my scarf and water.

That's all for now

Peace and Love

Aku

DIY Senegalese Twists Take 3

      The twists are back again. It's going to be a busy rest of the month and I don't need to worry about my hair. Heading to New York this weekend and from there straight to Georgia early July. 

        Lots of packing and reading for school going on over here. So you remember last weeks wash day, right? Clarified and detangled then flat ironed? Well this weekend I decided I didn't want to go though it again, so I installed the twists on week old hair. I must say, I thought the idea was great and next week before I head to New York, I'll wash my hair with the twists in.

     This time around I didn't sit on my butt for more than four hours, so it took three days to complete. I must say I liked my hair better the second time around. But I am still content with the results. 

Peace and Love Everyone!

Please, wish me luck on my drive to New York!

Wash Day- Ponytail Roller Set- Flat Iron

I've really neglected my hair. For two weeks I kept it in two up-do's, different variations of a goddess twist. But I really should get back to taking care of whatever hair I have left so recently I...

• Woke up and started detangling with my oil mix. I had no idea it would take me two hours, but I did go two weeks without really touching my hair.

• In the shower I clarified using ORS Creamy Aloe shampoo.

• Hopped out and toweled dried my hair for ten minutes or so and applied my Kanechom Ceramidas deep Conditioner.

• Deep conditioned with heat for a half hour and hopped back in the shower to rinse off.

• T-shirt dried for a little and decided to go to Panera Bread with a wet bun.

• When I got home, I began to detangle with my leave-in mix (hello hydration, aloe vera juice and water) and Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum.

• This took forever. FOREVER. I did my first ponytail roller set I believe. Moisturized, detangled, ponytail and rollers. I even had help detangling because my arms were shot.

• I decided to let my hair air dry. Some of the rubber bands snapped, so I just re-rolled the hair. The take down wasn't as glorious as my old roller sets. I cross-wrapped before bed.

• It was heat-less for that day however the next day I took to straightening my 20 weeks post roots. One pass, no more than two with my StyleHouse Ceramic Flat Iron and CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray.

     So five months post, I've never done that before. I haven't found it too hard. It's actually easy to not put a relaxer in. I'm itching to cut but I'm waiting for the right time. I want to rock a TWA and I'm afraid at 6 months post maybe I'll be in the  awkward stage. Not sure.

     I see DYI twists in my future for the rest of the year. If only I could find the time. This weekend I really wanted to straighten my hair. Kind of curious. Next weekend...I have no idea.

Left: That ponytail was super thick at the base. Top Right: :( I can't recall a
time my flat ironed hair looked so terrible. Bottom Right: The nape is a jungle.

Loved this bun (nape was struggling though) I feel like I have my natural
color back.

One Love

Aku

Strawberry Infused Water

I still hate drinking water but throw some lime juice and strawberries in it and I'm down. I continually search for ways to get myself to drink water and I think this is the winner for now. Starting off with my 22oz a day.

As I got to the bottom of the water bottle,
 the water was flipping delicious. 

Drink up people!
Peace and Love Aku

Banana Pre-poo/Deep Condition

So I got rid of my iPhone (but I still have it) anyways I usually write my posts on my phone and Blogger syncs it. With my new phone, the post never sync. EVER. I'm working on it.

I planned on installing twists this week, honest I did. But things didn't go accordingly, so I opted for a hair meltdown and the next day tension blew my hair with a little heat. I started flat ironing it but I had to stop so I could learn to drive stick shift.

• Wet my hair and proceeded to blend two bananas, teaspoon of honey (honey was running low) and a half cup (a little less than half) of water. I managed not to spill the concoction this time.

• Applied my banana mix, placed a plastic cap over it and waited a half hour.

This week at Trader Joe's I picked up their Spa Shampoo only because it said moisturizing and they ran out of the tea tree shampoo. I also picked up the Tea Tree Conditioner. So far I like one over the other. More on that in a future post.

• Rinsed the banana out with the shampoo and proceeded to Tea Tree Condition. Rinsed and poured cold Aloe Vera Juice on my hair and sealed it with oil.

• I wrapped my hair in a T-shirt for an hour as I feathered the hair extensions. Some how some way I nixed the plan after I felt my hair wasn't fully cleansed. I'm not sure if it was banana remnants or henidgo but I didn't want to twist my hair after that.

Moped around and detangled a little bit. I was having a bad hair day.

The next day I sprayed water, aloe vera and Hello Hydration mix on it and tension blew it semi straight. All the textures are hard to work with. I attempted to straighten it to no avail.

I haven't had my hair straight for about four months now. I really want to master straightening natural hair without heat damage (moknowshair) for my future endeavors. 

Peace and Love

Aku

First Henna + Indigo Treatment (LATE LATE LATE)

         At my wits end with my hair. I'm sure it's not going to stop breaking until it gets my whole head, hopefully this hendigo can help.
         Due to the severity of my breakage, I decided what's the worst that can happen if I use henna? Red hair, that is probably the worst for me personally. I love my natural color so I tested my strands before the big application, and red, red, red. The first clump of hair I let sit over night and a second clump, I did another one for two hours, both were similar red colors. Ugh I'd have to incorporate the indigo.

3 parts henna 150 g

•      2 cups of water
•      Tablespoon of EVOO and Avocado Oil
•      Kanechom Ceramides conditioner
•      Some lemon juice

1 part indigo 50 g

     I let the henna sit overnight. Added the indigo right before I applied it to my head. I believe I left the hendigo on for at least 3 hours. I was terrified about the color change.

Henna Treatment

Getting ready

Pre-hendigo

Not too drastic, but I don't like

 

    The back of my hair can not reach the ponytail, so I take mini butterfly clips and gather two sections and clip them up. Either this or a faux bun.

     Henna + Indigo, I could have done without it perhaps...I don't know. I really didn't care for the treatment and the application process. I think the breakage has stopped because my hair is probably like "I guess we destroyed her whole back of the head, let's leave her alone." However, I do think my hair will slowly continue to break everywhere, it seems to be moving to the front left side, lots of mid-shaft splits. My curl pattern...didn't notice much of a change expect maybe it is easier to detangle? Overall, I think that was the first and last of the henna and indigo.

    I believe I am 16 weeks post. Hoping I have time to install twists next week. Two more weeks of classes, I'm trying to finish strong.

Peace and Love

Finale Post by Miriam!

Hey guys! This will be my last post! I wanted to make it special and different. I'm so sorry i'm late, school work literally has taken over this year for me. It's hard to keep a balance with everything. I first want to say that this experience was awesome and a great experience! I'm glad I got the chance to post my personal hair regime, share tips and products, and also share certain things that were not based on just hair. The hair community is great, and the atmosphere is very friendly. You guys are willing to help each other out,share ideas, and even give tips on certain aspects. I learned that this truly is a great way to stay on track with what ever goal we have. I also want to give a big thanks to my sister Aku, for letting me take over for April. Life is so much more than hair, and this blog is a perfect example of that! I hope I can do this again! Maybe in a year?! Hmm, that would be cool to see the transition and change of one year. Anyway I will definitely check back on this blog for updates! I wish you guys the best of luck with what ever goal you have! You can achieve anything with hard work and dedication! ]

And now i'll leave you guys with motivational quotes!