Coils, Salon, One Year Post!

        I fell in love with coils quickly, however, it took me longer to like them on myself. I went to a local salon for a free consultation and was sold. She booked me for a next day appointment and we decided on coils.  It's a style they say will last 2-4 weeks. The first two weeks I let the coils be while lightly moisturizing them every other day. That consists of putting a moisturizer on my palms, rubbing them together and then rubbing my tight coils with moisturized palms. In a week or so I will wear a coil out. The first coil out is complimentary at the salon however, not sure when I have time to visit...

         Like I mentioned earlier, it took me a while to like this on me. It's so short but I enjoy shaking my "dreads" in the morning. This hair has been so easy breezy. But HONEY let me tell you! Yes! It took 4 hours after detangling, washing and deep conditioning for two hours. Yes I was at the salon from 1:30 to 7:30. It did not seem worth the time at first but I just love the ease!! 

Three more weeks! Lets go. I have yet to work out with this hair, I have no excuses. By the way, I haven't been to the salon in exactly a year. That last relaxer and hair cut. Being one year post relaxer and almost six months post BC, I thought I'd be farther along. But first I need to figure out how to master my hair then everything will fall into place.

Peace and Love

Aku

Acrylics & Work

       This month started with a whole completely new schedule. Currently, I have two jobs. They just seem to happen at the same time. Several months I ago, I mentioned finding volunteer opportunities. I tried three places and one stuck. Long story short, the one that stuck ended up actually hiring me. Just when work was looking like a good schedule filler, I found a new hobby. Painting.
        Self-proclaimed artist over here. I picked up a brush and absolutely fell in love. It feels like I have been to the art stores every other day stocking up on supplies. I have been using YouTube to help me hone on my skills. I just love love love this Youtuber's videos, Cinnamon Cooney. Check out her Facebook and my pics below. Check-out my pictures.  

Cinnamon Cooney- Van Gogh inspired

Different Youtuber helped with this one

My brushes and such

 

     I've taken art classes in high school and undergrad but I never loved them and I guess I lost interest. Most of the supplies I had was from undergrad, glad I kept them. It's been a while since I had a hobby, I'm so happy I find enjoyment in mixing colors and painting for hours. 

Peace & Love
Aku

Curlformer Dupe Success!

     AHA I did it! Check out my pictures. Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all create fond memories during the up-coming months. 

     I thought perhaps Curlformers were not for me. But I gave them another chance and I am glad I did. I want to have another successful Curlformer run, but I have been doing a poor job keeping or remembering a regimen. I believe 

• I clarified Shea Moisture Shampoo
• Used my Biolage Conditioning Balm as a leave it
• Sealed with raw Shea 
• Applied a small amount of Shea Moisture Curl Smoothie
• Did more sealing with avocado butter

           I know, I know, I need to do better with remembering. Oh! I can not forget, I have been deep conditioning with mayo for 30 minutes, the past few washes My hair loves the added moisture. I have  also been loving butters too!

Please excuse my hand, I don't know what I was holding.

Took my curls to work

I actually reapplied the curlformers and enjoyed them even
more than the first day.

A day of shopping and humidity left my hair extra puffy, I actually reapplied the curlformers again, thinking they would magically look the same as the first two days. Sounds reasonable right? Not to my hair. So I quickly split my hair into a top and bottom ponytail and created a makeshift bun.

 

Left: Reapplying Curlformers for the third time after being
out in the humidity all day. Left: That morning, not a curl
was found.

Peace and Love

Aku

Have you peeps used Curlformers or Dupes?

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