Restoration Continued

Happy Monday YAIS readers!

I forgot to put up Sunday's Question yesterday but never fear, we'll have one for you next time. I was pretty bummed about my henna fail last weekend, but I've still been using my tools to get back on track; deep conditioning hasn't happened yet but I've been sticking to low manipulation hairstyles like my high bun and loose ponytails and I twisted my hair yesterday.  I twisted on damp hair, using conditioner as my leave-in and sealing with Vatika oil. I unfortunately could not find my rat-tail comb to part so they are pretty messy but it's not too terrible. Here's a quick pic of my twists:

I've also been exercising to get rid of the stress and finally started cooking again. Before I had been eating out (or not eating at all) but I finally went grocery shopping and made a really simple pasta dish last night - just egg noodles with garlic, sauteed spinach and boiled egg (for protein) and added a little hot sauce. I know it sounds weird and I don't have a really good picture of it but trust me it was delicious and best of all quick to make. I'm so proud that I was in my kitchen after nearly 6 weeks and have leftovers for lunch today.

Back to hair, I did notice that I don't have a lot of single strand knots as much as I do splits in my hair. I am happy to see that it's breaking less and that most of the hair coming out is shed hair (yes, I was examining all the strands that came out just to be sure!) so that's already a step up from the horrible breakage I was experiencing before. No set regimen for my hair yet, but sticking to my restoration plan I should be alright soon enough!

Use Your Tools: Bouncing Back From Hair Set-Backs

Fellow YAIS readers, lately my hair (and body) has been showing me signs that I need to take better care of myself. My stress levels have been through the roof and now I've crashed; of course with the crash the damage needs to be assessed, and my hair definitely needs some repair; it's dry and breaking and duller then usual (I miss my natural sheen!) but all isn't lost. My wise and wonderful grandmother gave me some sound advice recently: use your tools. Reach back to what you know to help get yourself back on track. In terms of hair, how do we get back on track?

(Deep) Condition: Condition the tresses for moisture. I've been incredibly lazy for a while about deep conditioning, and I know this can be a bit of a hot topic when it comes to naturals (some don't see a need for it, others swear by it) but some sort of intense treatment after being neglectful is probably useful. I personally think it's more about what you use to deep condition your hair as oppose how long you leave it in. I plan to use a homemade treatment because those have always been good to me in the past.

Low Manipulation: I've always been told a watched pot never boils (or something to that effect) and that applies to hair. Leaving it alone, or just minimizing the amount of daily handling gives it a chance to grow out and recover. There are many low-to-no manipulation hairstyles: braids, twists and twist outs, buns and roller-sets to name a few. My hair is in box braids at the moment, and I will probably do buns all next week. All I want to do is worry about moisturizing my hair instead of styling it.

Eat Healthy: Food is fuel for the body. When you aren't getting enough of something it shows, first in your hair and nails and then everywhere else. Recently my diet has been anything but good and not eating well (or rarely in my case) can effect your concentration and mood. The weather is getting better so it's the perfect time to dive back into eating fruits. I'm also taking a multi-vitamin and drinking green tea to get a little more fuel - I'm not a health expert but this works really well for me.

Lower the Stress: Exercise, breath for ten minutes alone, or take a vacation if you got it like that. Taking care of your body will really take care or your hair. Now that I have crashed I'm exhausted from the lack of sleep. The last two nights I slept a full eight hours! And I'm taking a mini trip out of town this weekend to Massachusetts to visit with my sister. When I get back I plan to go back to the YMCA regularly to run and work out.

So that's what I've been dealing with naturalistas. What have you been up to? What are some useful tools you have to help you bounce back?

From The Black Swan Diaries: Hair We Go

I came across this beautiful dancer on facebook on a friend's page and immediately took interest. She is a beautiful African American ballet dancer who blogs about her experiences facing adversities as a black dancer. She went from being told her career as a black dancer was over, to being Zoe Saldana's dance double in the movie Center Stage. While sifting through her blog looking through beautiful photos of her dancing, I noticed that all I saw was beautiful waves brushed back into her ballerina buns... a few minutes later, I found this post:

Hair We Go by Aesha Ash of The Black Swan Diaries

"I came across this photo while doing some research on my last post. It was the observation in the paragraph that followed which presented an interesting topic and stirred up some uncomfortable memories from my past. The comment went as follows:

“i find the natural hair charming/interesting, esp because a black ballet dancer would almost certainly have to straighten/pull back her hair, unless the company was alt/up-and-coming/deliberately provocative. but i don’t think i’ve ever seen a picture of a black ballet dancer with a fro. natural hair, yes. fro, no.”

This comment made me recall several instances where my hair caused me to feel distant and removed from the classical art I had grown to love. There were many ballets where the dancer was meant to wear their hair down, and the image of long flowing locks billowing through the air as the dancers movement graced the stage was a breathtaking image for all who observed. Many of the ballets highlighted hair as the dancers were required to either wear long ponytails or have lengthy hair that draped and flowed during performances. This built in aesthetic posed real challenges to many girls no matter what ethnicity, but an even greater challenge for myself and other dancers of color. Luckily, we all had tricks up their sleeves to overcome these natural challenges. One particular instance during my time at Bejart Ballet will forever stick with me. While choreographing a new piece, Maurice Bejart instructed each dancer to let down their hair to see if he could incorporate that into the piece. He instructed each girl, one by one to take down their hair, and as I stood their watching each girl’s hair fall gracefully down their backs, my insecurity begin crawling its way up my spine. My hair is textured and not prone to falling down straight like what I have seen in many ballets. I believed in protecting my hair by keeping it natural and avoiding harsh and damaging chemical perms and relaxers.  I also enjoyed the versatility that my natural hair provided. However, inside I knew this was not the image he was looking for.  I certainly had never seen any evidence that my hair type was desired as the above comment so pointedly stated. Therefore, when my turn came and I loosened my hair band—my hair puffed out crinkly and curly, not straight down.  Maurice smiled and some dancers chuckled. Luckily, I was a much more mature dancer and was able to brush off such a reaction. I could only image how such insensitivity would have affected me as a younger dancer. However, this episode still bothered me. It never feels good to be laughed at because of who you are. However, although I was offended and disappointed, I was not surprised."

To read the rest of her post go to Hair We Go by Aesha Ash of The Black Swan Diaries

Growing out of the Trial and Error Phase

It's been about 2 years natural and 1 year with this hair I have now (as I "big chopped again about a year ago), and It feels great to finally feel like most of my new trials should have minimal errors. These past 2 years have taught me so much about myself, my natural hair and caring for it, and really understanding what my hair needs.  Now that I've really learned more about different ingredients in products, I also realized that I'm having a lot less error when it comes to buying new products or tools to try.

Aside from the fact that I also feel like I've finally streamlined my top and favorite products, I have also seemed to streamline my methods too; Methods for detangling, twisting, parting, braiding, placement, washing, product application, mixing products and more. It's funny because I've been watching LOST from the begining on Netflix since the new year, and I've even gone as far as to thinking about what would be my regimen if I was stranded on a deserted island... papaya juice moisturizer? Detangling tool made out of bones or teeth of some sort (no snag?) Yes... I thought long and hard about this because you know I would still be trying to retain length on the island too... l wanna get rescued with some Rudy Huxtable/ Ciely braids! Lol Lemme stop now...

It definitely feels great to know what single strand knots are and how to keep them at bay, to understand moisturizing and how to do it properly, knowing that when I can't run my fingers through my hair, it's time for a trim, and just to have gotten into a flow of a regimen because I'm definitely not usually one to stick to a regimen.

I would say my favorite part has been my whole change of mindset when it comes to natural hair and beauty in general. It feels good to know that the ignornance of "good hair/ bad hair" has been erased from my mind and I now understand beauty and hair care practices.

What is has been your favorite part or least favorite part of doing your natural hair?

Any trials and or errors you're happy to be over?

Intro Tips For Grocery Shopping and Cooking (for the Young, Natural and Busy)

We talk a lot about hair here at YAIS, but this is also a blog for the twenty-somethings who are navigating adulthood. It can be really rough sometimes and although we are "adults"  we do need some guidance and life lessons, especially in time management, how to to deal with emotional issues, etc. For those of us who graduated high school and work or have recently finished college (like myself) we have been thrust into the "real world" and expected to fend for ourselves-- the big question is how? But it isn't all bad, if you have direction and some resources to help you out! First, let me share a picture of a recent cooking experiment SP and I had a couple of weeks ago. We made a garlicy alfredo sauce over Angel Hair pasta and spinach with garlic bread and some wine--it was a quick and delicious meal!

Our tasty pasta dinner

Cooking for oneself is a crucial skill which doesn't require culinary expertise, just an area to make your food. I'm talking about everyday eating, with food you can afford and the time set aside to cook it.  At one point I was taking a full schedule of classes, working two internships and commuting about 4 hours daily and I kept my eating out to a minimum - partly because I was a broke college student, but also because I like cooking. I wasn't preparing gourmet meals and shopping at Whole Foods, but I made rice, simple stews, and casseroles. These days I work full-time and work on projects on the side; it seems to me that I really only have one day of "rest" and that varies but my meals come from home on average 6 days out of the week; most of my meals take less than an hour to make. I even bring lunch from home, which is a combination of left overs and sandwiches. What helps me cook is basing my meals off of what I have in the house, which comes down to buying what I normally eat. I started keeping a log to help with grocery shopping. Here is a screenshot of my Google doc that lists the "staples" I try to have:

I don't always have everything on this list, and this may be anal for some, but it really helps me. (And I'm sure you're wondering what I make using this list, recipes to come!) I should mention that right now I don't cook with meat: I was a vegetarian for about 9 months after Turkey Day '10, then went "Pescatarian" (one who eats fish) and now I eat meat maybe once every couple of months, but have opted not to cook with it because it saves money and has made me more creative with cooking. It's easy to use a search engine for an idea or use resources from blogs and cooking sites. My two personal favorites at the moment are Poor Girl Eats Well and Cheap, Healthy Good. I've adapted recipes to my taste and what I have in the kitchen and they use ingredients that are easily attainable.

Eating out all the time really adds up quickly and if you're "frugal" like me, money disappearing like that can upset you. But if you're busy working, raising small children and/or going to school cooking may not be something you can do all the time and that's understandable. If you can boil a pot of water, cooking will be fine with practice. Taking some time to make sure that you eat and can take care of yourself is truly important however, and your body (and wallet) will definitely thank you for it later.

Being Healthy is Not All About Hair

Confession time folks,

I've noticed that my hair lately has not been in top shape and I know that it's in direct correlation with my insides not being in the best of shape either. For the past month or so I was getting a little lazy with hair care and very lazy with my health. So of course I got really sick. Being sick is always a major indicator for me that it's time to take a break. As I am getting better I am looking at my hair and see that it's breaking, I've got single strand knots and splits and some parts are drier. I know right now I need a trim and some strengthening treatments, but before that I need to get my body and mind right. I need to eat a lot better, get some more sleep, and slow down a bit. I've already begun eliminating some stuff from my life that has been causing physical stress, and have been getting more sleep--I was constantly on less then six hours with thirteen plus hours a day of doing things, not cool! I'm also trying to stay hydrated and cutting out caffeine, (which I have no business drinking in the first place due to other health issues) and would like to go back to being active--my Y membership has been collecting dust. Anyway, this just serves as a reminder to folks that hair hair health should be included in the larger context of being healthy. No you don't have to go vegetarian or stop eating cupcakes, but do drink water, do eat fruits and veggies and foods that will give you nutrition and not just satisfy your hunger. And don't forget to focus on your mental health either! We often need to take the time to walk slow (even if you live in NYC!) and take a seat every once in a while.

I'll be updating on getting back on track with my hair and body health for the next couple of weeks. And for those who have suggestions of hair strengthening products, or products for health and fitness (if that makes sense) do leave a comment! I'd appreciate all the help at the moment.

Stay cool!

Exercise and Healthy Hair

I remember when I used to be really active, playing sports and doing yoga and tae-bo (don't judge!) with my grandmother. It turns out that being active is great for maintaining healthy hair as well as a healthy body over all. I started thinking recently that even though I am in my 20s, I don't want to be sluggish by the time I'm in my 30s. So taking better care of my body starts now!

I've been working out lately, and am working through a trial membership at my local YMCA. It's easier for me because I've been using weather as an excuse to be lazy and not play basketball for exercise like I used to and the YMCA is literally on my way home. I plan to become a member when the time is up and take some classes, particularly swimming lessons because I don't know how to swim very well (#forshame). Of course when planning my new "active" routine I am now contemplating "active" hair. Protective styling seems to be the only way all my hair will fit under a swim cap, but I'm looking into styles that won't "sweat out" or get too frizzy and big. Mr. Smooth suggested buns as my saving grace but he joked that my hair might be to massive for that as well.

I'll give more details about my new active routine as I develop it. I'm going to the Y after work tonight to work out and my hair is in braids at the moment so I'm not worried about messy hair.

Today Is Hair Day and "Centering" Myself

It's been a minute since I spent a good amount of time on my hair. I've been working like a mad woman and am starting to shut down which isn't good for the mind and body, and since I'm wearing my hair loose I noticed it's getting dry a lot faster, nor is it's shine quality top notch. So today I am going to spend time on myself because if I don't, the next couple of weeks just might destroy me #busywoman.  In terms of hair, here's what I plan to do today:

*Bentonite Clay treatment
*Wash my hair with Curlicious Curls Shampoo
*Deep Condition with a mixture of Renpure Organics My Hair Is Parched, Honey, and Coconut oil
*Use Kinky Curly Knot Today as a leave-in
*set my hair with a foam wrap

I'm still interested in rocking curly fros/bobs so I'll probably attempt a rollerset using magnetic rollers and not curlformers. I finally placed an order on Curlmart for my favorites like Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioner, Cleansing Cream and Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding, but they won't get here till Tuesday or Wednesday.

In between these hair treatments I'll probably give myself a facial, watch a movie and get some writing done. To end the night, I'll cook a dinner I've been craving for some reason, which really is just angel hair pasta with creamy garlic sauce and veggies. Hopefully all this will help me be relaxed for the the work week.


And what do you naturals do to your hair (or other things) to center yourself or relax?

Healthy Body: Green Tea

I've mentioned that I'm being more health conscious then I ever have been on my own and I think I'm starting to feel the benefits now. I no longer eat meat (much to the dismay of my pops who can't imagine such a meal without goat or lamb) which means I could be missing certain things in a balanced diet such as protein. So I've been paying more attention to what I'm consuming and what I'm putting in my body because I want to be healthy. I believe a combination of things--not one miracle food/vitamin--is what makes a good diet. And the key is being consistent--over time you'll see the results.

Lately I've been consuming a daily cup of green tea, (although it is suggested to drink about 3 cups a day for full benefits). I grew up drinking it because my family is HUGE on all sorts of herbs and teas to drink. Once I reached "puberty" my grandmother required that I try to have a cup of green tea every day, sweetened with organic honey (not sugar) and decaffeinated. Occasionally I also added lemon juice to it. I personally drink my tea without anything but it's mostly because I'm drinking it at work and all they have is sugar. So why green tea?

- helps with metabolism, and weight loss
- contains epigallocatechil gallate, an antioxidant that hinders cancer cell growth
- cleanses the body of toxins
- fights bacteria
*Source


I'm going to try and drink the tea 3 times daily, once in the morning (like I've been doing) once in the mid-afternoon, and then another before or after dinner. I found this article on WebMD discussing what the science community is saying about green tea and why they are finding it useful. Remember that healthy hair starts from within the body so if you're on that journey be sure to drink some tea!

Healthy You Equals Healthy Hair

For me, embracing my natural hair taught me to become more aware of myself on different levels. Although hair is technically "dead," hair growth and the state of our hair starts with our insides. I remember last Spring when I was getting ready to graduate from college I had a whole laundry list of stress that took a toll on my hair. Besides direct neglect on my part, I wasn't eating well nor was I sleeping much because of the stress I was dealing with. The natural "sheen" to my hair went dim and it was constantly dry and tangled and I experienced some breakage.

I've changed my diet recently to non-meat eating, not for moral reasons but because I simply don't care for eating it at the moment--but better believe that when I crave some carne I will be eating it. Eating meat is actually not bad for our health because it's an excellent source of protein which is of course great for hair growth. I usually ate poultry (chicken) with the occasional red meat saved for when I went to Chipotle or Good Burger (omnomnom). Right now I've occasionally been consuming other sources of protein like fish, dairy and eggs and taking cod liver oil in pill form. (I used to have to drink the liquid as a child, and can't deal with the fishy taste so the pills are easier). Cod Liver Oil has omega-3 fatty acids which are great for hair. It also helps with vision and skin health and the immune system. I take 2 capsules daily.

I've also always been a heavy consumer of veggies, particularly green ones like spinach, broccoli and green beans. They are really easy to cook and great to add to a meal. I don't always eat organic, but I do shop at my local fruit and vegetable stand. Just like caring for your hair, caring for your body doesn't have to be expensive and I live in New York City where everything is pricey and I still more or less live like a "broke college student."