Hair health!

Okay so it has been like three weeks with these mini twist.

The biggest lesson I have learned from this style are as follows...

1. Mini twist are a pill to remove, even if you do not wet them or apply any products to them daily.

2. Mini twist still needed to be tamed with water, just like regular medium sized twist.

3. Mini twist are hard to style on short hair, especially if you hate bobby pins like me. The best I could do when bored is to wear a hair band. Don't like wearing those on the regular.

4. My hair does not need products when in a low-manipulation/ protective style. I did not apply any products to my twist and when I went to take my hair down it was greasy and mushy. Eweh!

5. My hair needs to be washed once a week, even if I do not use any products. My scalp feels fine, but my hair feels too soft and mushy from buildup of sweat and trapped sebum. Yuck!

Side notes.....

1. I think my main style will be a medium sized twist-out. I will have to apply products, mainly water and retwist the style at night. I will have to wash my hair every few days. For now since I don't have money to by my curls shampoo I will use my treseme. I will do a pre-poo with Olive Oil and I will wash with the shampoo. I will not follow with the conditioner, because it irritates my skin. Instead I will use my knot today leave-in on my hair. I will also be washing my hair in braids.

2. I will no longer wear my twist as a protective style/ low manipulation style. Instead I will wear medium sized plaits with extension hair that are easy to put up and take down. For my own sainty I will wash my hair with dilluted shampoo while wearing the braids. On wash day only I will apply a little oil as a prepoo.

Will be doing some braids today, because I am going to Texas on Friday and will not have time to groom hair daily.

CLM

Carolyn's Hair Length Retention Routine!

Once a month...

Step 1) Wash hair with a gentle shampoo that will not dry the hair. I like Curls Cleansing Creme,a shampoo bar make work too. I also like Carol's daughter. If using a commerical shampoo dillute with water and appply olive oil to the hair before washing. Applying oil is a good idea anyway.

Step 2)Apply a thick creamy leave in conditioner to hair and detangle hair gently with a wide tooth comb in small sections. I like Knot today, Carol's Daughter and my own aloe juice and vegetable gylerin spray with water.

Step 3) Style hair in low-manipulation style (mini twist for short hair, box-braids or medium sized twist for longer hair. May also apply extensions on short hair, just be real gentle!)

Step 4) Sleep with a satin bonet nightly and leave your hair alone! Do not apply any oils or products to your hair, pretend they are sister locks and leave them alone! Leave the style in for one month.

Step 5) Very gently remove braids or twist and pre treat hair with olive oil, wash and restyle hair for the next month!

CLM

My hair grows best when.....

My hair grows best when I leave it alone!

I once went to an expo and I met this woman with beautiful thick two strand twist that came down to her shoulders. I admired her beautiful twist which looked like locks and I was in awe. I had never seen a person with natural hair who had twist that looked as full and healthy as locked hair. I interviewed the woman and this is what she told me.

1) Once a month, I wash my hair with Aubrey Organic Shampoo and Conditioner and then I twist my hair.

The woman did not mention protien treatments or mosturizers etc.

Her routine was so simple I missed the secret, low-manipulation.

There was another girl on youtube, Long hair dont care. She had long beautiful hair that was natural and straight. She did indeed press her hair which was a no no in the natural book. She said that she washed her hair once a month and then braided it. Once again I missed the secret, low-manipulation.

All this time I thought the secret to hair growth, aka hair length retention was in a magic product like a mositurizer or some magic shampoo, or even a so called protective style.

Now I know for sure that the #1 secret to hair length retention is low-manipulation! It matters less how often you wash your hair with or what you wash your hair with, but more how often do you put stress on your hair by combing and pulling it.

Manipulation is detangling and styling the hair. Detangling my hair weekly, or styling it weekly is the reason I have not retained as much length. By simplying washing, detangling and styling my hair on a once a month basis I will stop unnecessary breakage. I dont have to wash my hair if I do not apply any products to my hair on a daily basis. Oils do not moisturize my hair they simply add dirt to my hair and scalp,there is no magic moisturizer, simply by leaving my hair in a twisted or braided state it will help my hair to remain soft, smooth and not as dry. The only investment or products that I think are necessary are a good cleanser that doesn't completely strip the hair and leave in conditioner with slip that will make the detangling process as simple as possible. In general I think the best low-manipulation hair style is medium sized box-braids or twist. Since my hair is short I have opted for mini twist which I will remove very carefully. I will continue to use the mini twist as my style of choice until my hair gets longer. I want the hair to be long enough to gather into a simple bun while twisted or braided. I believe I will have achieved my goal using my new method by Dec 2012.

CLM

Style Profile: Twist-out/Braid-out aka Dry Curls

The Curly Fro

Basically when I rock the curly fro I have to be prepared for a certain element of drama as my hair will be out and doing it's thing. I think this style is flattering on short hair. It doesn't really count as a protective style but considering the fact that your ends have to be hidden neither are the twist and braids on short hair. I can be low-manipulation as long as you don't comb your hair much between sets. I think it is possible to live for a few days off this style before you need to reset it. I plan on rocking this style as soon as I come off my protective style at the end of the month.

CLM.

Syle Profile: FLAT-TWIST

I really like this style as a protective style on my short natural hair. My hair is like 2 and half inches right now. This style works better than two-strand twist or box-braids which stick up.

What I love about this style:

I love that this style allows me control. I just have 12 flat-twist going straight back. I don't have to do anything to my hair for 5-7 days.

What I don't like about this style:
The twist always come out frizzy on my hair. The style also takes a long time to do and it is a pretty tedious job. I usually have to take my time and it takes a few attempts to do a twist.

How to add flare:

I can always rock a nice scarf or slip on a wig, because my hair is flat to my head.

Products required:

A nice creamy leave in like Knot today or a lite gel rocks well.

CLM

Back to Basics Hair truths for me!

After hair albums, hair videos, hair books and hair forums there are about 4 hair truths I believe in when it comes to my hair.

1. My hair needs to be washed weekly with a low to no sulfate natural shampoo.

2. My hair needs a leave in conditoner.

3. My hair needs to be detangled weekly with a wide tooth comb.

4. My hair needs to be in medium sized two strand twist left in my hair for no more than a week.

These are the four things I need to keep my hair healthy and growing.

CLM

Got Kinky twist with human hair!

I decided to continue to grow my hair out using braids. I just think without the braids I will keep starring at my hair waiting for it to grow. Will try to post some pics.

CLM

Update!

Still waiting for this hair to grow back so I can twist it and braid it. I may start a wash and go routine for a while because I don't want to pick my hair daily. My mom is natural so I braided her hair. I really miss being able to play in my hair.

I tried some new stuff.

Cantu Shea butter shampoo and conditioner. This stuff left my hair feeling really soft.

Aussie Moist, shampoo mend and clean and moist conditioner, and the leave in spray. My hair really feels clean and soft when I use this.

Curl's cleansing cream. This makes my hair super soft and curly. I don't need conditioner afterward. It doesn't really lather at all.

Knot today. I use this after I shampoo as a leave in. It does make my hair feel moist. I am thinking about using it in a mix like Kimmytube on youtube does (aloe vera juice, knot today and oil).

Well thats my only update for now!

CLM

Diva TWA

I decided to spice up my twa with a few head bands. They are fun. In other news I tried a co-wash with pantene conditioner. It made my hair softer,but my scalp itched all night. I sprayed my hair with water and rubbed in some olive oil, then I brushed my hair with the sof bristle boar brush. My hair looks shinney and healthy. I may do rinsing more and leave shampoo for once a week.

CLM

Three new hats

I made threee new crochet hats to style up my twa. So far I have been loving my freedom. I have had mixed reviews on the hair, some say nothing, some say they like it and others are totally against it. I like it and look forward to having healthy hair. I will wash it tonight and massage in some olive oil. Nothing else new to report. Will try to post up those pics of the nwe cut.

CLM

Life in the twa lane!

My hair has not been this short since I was in elemenary school, back then I hated my hair in a curl. I am learning how to accept myself with no hair. I am also learning how to live with imperfection. Since I am restarting my hair journey with the knowledge of what I learned the first time there are some things I am doing different.

#1. I am allowing my hair to do what it wants. I am not going to force a style out of my hair. Today is a good example, I washed my hair, let it dry, slept on it and this morning I got up and left the house without any extra primping.

#2 I am using the bare minimal products in the most minimal way. I will only use natural shampoo and a little olive oil as my conditioner. I will wash my hair at least once a week or when needed. I will not be applying any other products to my hair beyond what I do when I wash it period. None of those products did anything special to my hair and I rather use a leave in after washing and I have not found any that I like more than olive oil.

#3 No more hiding my hair, behind head bands, scarves, wigs or fake braids! I will be wearing my fro as is.

#4 No more combs, from now on my fingers will be doing the parting and the detangling.

#5 My style objective is to cultivate long twist that I will treat like locks. I will twist once a month and wash and oil weekly.

I will relax and watch my hair grow and enjoy my new laid back journey!

CLM

I Cut My Hair!!!!!!!!!

I will post a pic up soon! I did the big chop again, but this time I went lower than ever. I have a quarter inch of hair, not even enough to pinch. I was not scared to cut my hair, my husband was though. I feel liberated, light and free. I now have a fresh start.

CLM

I am so frustrated with these straight pieces ......

in my afro, I may just cut all my hair off. Oh how I wish I could just wash and twist my hair. I had to twist my hair and then tie bands around each twist. My twist-out was horrbile! I need a protective style that I can live with in the inbetween. I think I will co-wash my hair and put some coconut oil on it and then braid it in some small box braids. I may keep it braided until December. Maybe then my hair will have grown enough to cut it.

CLM

Two new routines!!!!!!

#1 Kimmytube on youtube

She applies olive oil and water in her hair to detangle it, then while it is still wet she applies sulfate free shampoo and then conditioner and rinses as her final step.

#2 Marsalis686 o youtube

He, thats right he. This brother broke it down to a science, wash your hair with apple cidar vinegar and then condition with olive oil. Use a few cap fills of the cider in a bottle of water of course!

I may try both of these methods.

Oh yeah both agree that you should wash once a week if not more. Marsalis washes his hair only in twist, he also takes them down one at a time to redo them. He detangles with a little water and oil and a wide tooth comb every three months!

Happy Hair Growth!

CLM

Twist-Out

Hey I can't keep my head in a regular style. I have the serious styling bug. I did some flat-twist in the front with a twist-out in the back. I discovered that the twist-out is quite easy to maintain, I just twist my hair at night and release it in the morning. I may keep rocking this til the end of the week when I was my hair. I just spray some oil on my hair in the morning and go. Happy twisting!

Two Are Better Than One

While I can fit my hair into one high afro-puff I can more comfortably fit my hair into 2 afro-puffs. At night I make four large twist into bantu knots so my hair stays detangled. In the morning I spritz with water and oil and create my two puffs. I am just going to keep it simple for a while.

CLM

Moisture, what does it really mean!

I keep hearing about moisture being essential for hair growth and maintaining healthy hair. I hear people talking about the protien/ moisture balance. People are going out to by products with these ingredients in them, well I look at it from this standpoint, moisture is just plain old water pure and simple. The problem is when you use water on your skin it gets absorbed in and some of it evaporates. Most people use lotion or oil on there skin to keep it "moisturized" Lotion is basically an oil and water emulsion. Oil and water normally seperate, but alcohol acts like a holding or binding agent that allow the oil and water to stick together. So here is my trick for keeping my hair moisturized.

#1 I spray my hair with water
#2 I spray my hair with oil or rub oil onto damp hair.

The reason is that the oil acts like a lubricant and seals in the moisture!

Heres to happy hair growth!

Btw products with extra protien make my hair dry and brittle.

CLM

If I were stranded on a dessert island!

If I were stranded on a dessert island here are the products and tools I would need...

#1 A spray bottle filled with water

#2 Olive oil

#3 A sulfate-free shampoo

#4 A Wide tooth comb

#5 A few ouch-less bands

#6 A rat-tail comb for parting

CLM

New Tricks!

Hey,

So I did take my braids down. I will still post a pic of the bor-braids. I ended up taking them down and spraying my hair with a little water and oil and then I used my wide tooth comb and I smoothed each section. I then braided my hair in 12 large box-braids. I divided my hair into 4 sections and turned each section into 3 braids. This morning my hair was so stretched. I was able to create a low pony tail which I pulled back into a bun! Yay! I did leave some of the hair in the front out, like Freddy from A Different World. I really like this! I will be doing this again as protective style. Braiding your hair at night is a wonderful way to protect your hair while wearing out styles or buns! As a bonus if I wanted a more regal look, I could have breated a bun from the hair I left out in the front. I may try that look tommorrow.

CLM

The Perfect Transition Style!

Box-Braids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have rediscovered why I heart box-braids. No matter what your hair texture they can make your hair look great. You can have almost any length of hair. The are real durable too, and they even stand up to bed head. Loser texture or straight hair texture hair may require small rubber bands on the ends. I needed a new style, because I got tired of wrestling my inbetween hair into twist.

For this style I divide my hair into 4 sections, and sprayed with a little warm water. Then I sprayed some Hot Six Oil on each section. I divided each section in two to comb using my wide tooth comb. I then parted rows using my finger, about 4 for each of the 4 sections. I made two or three braids per row. I secured the ends with bands. Great style in only an hour!!!!! This style will last for weeks.

Will post a pic later.

CLM

My Current Routine!

My basic rountine is two-strand twist.

So, lets say I have a set of old twist in my hair. I will take the twist down and then apply any kind of cheap conditioner to my hair, right now I am using Patene Nature Fusion, then I will divide my hair in 4 sections with a bands. I will shampoo my hair using Come Clean shampoo by Kinky Curly. Then I will use the Kont today leave in conditioner after I am done. I will seal the moisture in with a little Olive Oil or Hot Six Oil. Then I braid my hair in about 16 box braids. I wear the braids for 1 day then I wear the braid-out the next day. The third day I twist my old braid-out hair into two-strand twist, I secure the loose twist with black rubber bands. Everyday I spray my hair with Hot Six Oil as needed.

I wear the twist in french braids when they get old. When I want to wear them down, I spray them with water and oil and comb them down. If they are really resistant I rinse them with water.

Braids would probably last longer, but twist are easy to take down.

CLM

Stye Profile: French Twist

French braids are a classic style that are some what easy to do, they are a functional updo. This style is great for interviews.

For a new twist on the style, try french braiding your two-strand twist. They will bring new life to old frizzy twist and leave you with a classic style.

CLM

Photo gallery# 7

My twist updo

Photo gallery # 6

The pressing incident# 2

Photo Gallery # 5?

Kinky curly, my curls!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo Gallery # 4

The style I call "Freddy" from different world!!!!!!!

Photo Gallery #3

Playing with Fire #1 The first pressing incident! After this I cut off 4-6 inches!!!!!

Photo gallery 2

Wild Child

Photo Gallery 1: The Puff

This is me before the pressing incident!!!!!!!! Had some lovely length!

Miles of style: Twist- Up Do

Supplies needed....
1. Black rubber bands
2. Bobby Pins

Steps......
1. Start with fresh set of twist, divide front twist from back using bands
2. Make 8 pony-tails accross the front of your hair going straight back
3. Take the pony-tail from the opposite way you want your braid to go. Braid the first pony-tail half way.
4. Take the second pony-tail and divide it into two, take the braid from the first pony-tail and insert it between the two sections of the second pony-tail. Braid it half-way.
5. Repeat step four until you reach the end braid, braid it down.
6. Tuck the braid behind the french braid and pin in place using bobby pins.

Twist Tips

Carolyn tips:

How to deal with bed head twist on medium (4-6 inch when strectched) hair!

I love twisting my hair and the first day my twist look wonderful! Why can't they stay this way. Here are a few tricks I use to tame the twist!

1. Abandon ship and take the twist down the next day for a cute twist-out. Hey you got two days worth of style!
2. Water Spritz, take an empy spray bottle with a mist setting fill it with water, spritz and smooth the twist with your fingers.
3. Oil smooth, rub some oil on your hands and smooth the twist down with fingers!
4. Shower rinse- get in the shower and wet your twist, twist will look frizzy, but they will lay down!
5.Bobby pin the stray ones down.
6. Gather the twist in the front into two pony-tails. I call this the freddy style from freddy from a different world.

Happy twisting!!!!

Note: If you plan to use the abandon ship method do large to medium size twist so that you are not spending ours creating the style only to take it down the next day!

Help I have heat damage!

Carolyn's tips:

If you don't want to cut your hair yet there are a few things you can do.

1. Hide it under a wig or braids with extensions
2. Box-braid your hair, you may have to use rubber bands on the ends and you will not be able to handle your hair quite the same as before
3. Two strand twist

The trick to twisting heat damaged hair is to do the twist small and tight. You can do this by coiling each srand with your fingers as you twist. Your twist will look rope like. For resistant twist that unravel put a small rubber band on the twist and keep stepping. In six months you will have enough hair to start over! Just don't make the same mistake three time!!!!! My special trick is to wear a braid out for a few days and twist on dry old hair that has not been detangled!

CLM

PSA Warning on heat!!!!!!!!!!!

For the love of natural hair wear a wig when you want a straight look. When you straighten your hair with heat it alters the texture of your natural hair. This is heat damage. You must alter the texture to wear it straight. You cannot have your cake and it it too. The only thing you can do once it is straight is to cut if off and wait for curly hair to come out of your scalp. The hot comb, blow dryer, flat-iron are just like relaxer and they will leave you with two choices if you want your curly hair back, a big chop or transitioning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CLM

PS: The Blow dryer does the most damage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Hair Journey!!!

In the begining their was a healthy head of nappy hair sprouting from my scalp. A healthy crop if you will!

In the early days of elementary school my loving grandmother cared for my natural hair. She washed it every two weeks and plaited it daily. She use to lightly blow dry it and grease it with blue magic. My mother had three daughters and did not know a thing about hair! During this time the other girls at school had relaxers and I wanted my hair to be long and pretty like theirs. I did not like my plaited hair style!

Then the battles began! My dad use to hotcurl my hair into a mushroom hair style, which I hated. On special occassion it became necessary to have my hair "done". My aunt pressed my hair an experience that was truly nerve racking.

Then came the relaxer! At some point in elementary school my Aunt decided to relax my hair. Her main reason was that it would make my hair grow. She said all I needed was a relaxer and a trim every six weeks. I was left to fend for myself inbetween which meant that my hair was not washed or conditioned and all I had to care for my hair was a jar of blue magic. My hair became dry and brittle and started breaking off. Each time I went to my Aunt for a trim she chopped off several inches until I only had 1 inch of hair. My only relief back then was getting my hair braided with extensions. My mother would pay to have my hair braided and my hair would be left in the braids for six months without washing or oiling of any kind. My hair would grow back and then it was right back to my Aunt for another cycle of relaxers to make my hair fall out again. Each time I had it relaxed my scalp would burn the entire time and I would have scabs on my scalp. My hair would just fall out. Finally there was the curl solution! Since I only had one inch of hair my Aunt put a curl on my head. This was the ultimate shame in my hair experience. Instead of long hair I had short greasy hair! All of this was in elementary.

My hair savior came to the rescue in the fifth grade. I moved with my dad and I went natural. I grew the curl out with cornrows with my own hair that I got done every two weeks for $15.00 dollars. Then I graduated to single braids with extensions which were my favorite style. I had to learn to groom my hair inbetween times I could not afford the braids, so I learned to pull my hair into two afro-puffs using the trusty blue magic. I also began washing my own hair every two weeks.The braids became too expensive so by the time I got to high school I learned to braid on my own.

In the 9th grade I had a relaxer relaspe after a few bad pressing incidents, but I went back to braids and grew my hair out. I wore braids until my 18th birthday. When I turned 18 my Aunt convinced me to give relaxers a try again. She said I was getting too old for braids! My scalp burned so bad she only permed the back of my hair. She flat-ironed the rest. This was the last time I ever got a relaxer!!!!!!!!!!! I went back to braids and this time I was on a conscience mission to learn about caring for black natural hair.

My journey! In 2002 while in college I began researching in the library and on the web how to care for natural hair. I found a webstie called motowngirl and one called nappturality.com. I found books like, Natural Woman/Natural Hair by T'ykeyah and Plaited Glory and Good Hair by Bonner. I started looking for a new style and I discovered two strand twist. I went to salons to have my permed edges cut off. I finally gave up after they wanted to straighten it first and went to a barber shop. He cut my hair in a perfect afro! I felt free and happy. I tried to recreate the look using my blow dryer! You live and learn. I then tried out twist for the first time, I used a ton of gel, because I had no idea that black hair can hold it's own style. I finally got the hang of things in the summer when I started co-washing my hair and twisting it every few weeks. My hair grew like weeds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every once in a while I would plait it with extensions, but I started making the plaits at least an inch wide and I stopped braiding them as tight.

Hair troubles! My only set back has come from the use of heat. In 2008 I played with fire and I got burned. I was feeling really insecure with myself and the incident cost me 4-6 inches of hair, that I chopped off because my hair would not reverte. In 2010 my grandpa passed and the stress caused me not to care when my family pressured me to go to the shop. After one press my hair was ruined. I am currently growing it back out although this time I did not have it cut off.

CLM

About Moi!

I will do this in a Q& A Format!
Here are the basics!

Name: Carolyn Louise Maynard

Where are you from: Lovely Oakland ,California

How old are you: 26

When did you become natural: 2002

What are your interest: Natural hair, reading and health

Welcome!

Hello all!

This is a blog about natural ethnic afro-textured, kinky, coily, nappy hair. In this blog I will be talking about hair styles, hair care, the politics of natural hair and sharing my own journey, I will have product reviews, book reviews, website reviews and sometimes I will share parts of my life that overlapp with my hair. Welcome all natural sista's and those inspired by natural hair!

Carolyn Louise Maynard aka CLM aka LovelyBrown