The Second Time Around...

I'm really loving this haircut!
When i first chopped off all of my relaxed ends back in March, i wasn't in love with the little TWA I had. I had cut my hair very low before and was no stranger to short haircuts so i wasn't going to be the girl crying or running out for a new wig, but i was definitely ready to get pass the little TWA stage. QUICK.

This time around i am really loving it! My hair is soooooo much thicker than when i chopped it in May and I see major improvement in my edges. I suffered from Traction Alopecia around my front hairline (hair loss caused from tension, pulling, and stress on the hair; most often seen in women who wear constant tight weaves and braids), and although my edges are still thin, i see the progress and have faith that they will grow in more as I continue to take care of it.     

And i must say.... as a color Junkie, someone who always had their hair dyed from 2000 until now, that i'm actually liking having my natural color! It's actually a little darker than what i think  it's going to look like as it grows out, because i had rinsed my hair dark for the Curly weave install I did about a month ago.

 This time around, i almost wanna keep my hair short... lol

Really Enjoying My Hair

 Everyone including my 4th graders have been complimenting this style.  I've been styling my hair in updos mostly because it kept people from wanting to pet me (haha).I think that I am going to redo this style but with smaller twists because I want it to last a bit longer and I have a few functions to attend and think the style would work. I want to continue to focus on protective styling for the month because by Turkey Day I plan to wear my hair straight for a bit to do an *official* length check.

Hair For the Week

It's officially November and the weather is getting pretty cool. I've decided that for this month I am going to be really strict at protective styling. My hair is at the length where I usually start experiencing breakage and I'm trying to be extra careful because I am trying to retain it. Time to get creative! Anyway, this is my hair for the week.

I added rollers to the ends to curl it a little

I flat-twisted and two stand twisted. First I shampoo'd and conditioned my hair the day before and banded to stretch it out. Then I twisted with the very last of my Oyin Shine and Define, Burt's Bees Avocado Butter and sealed with jojoba oil. Hope you like!

New Love: Jojoba Oil

I mentioned before that I've been trying new products for my hair. One of the things I have been trying is jojoba oil. I picked it up from Whole Foods. All I can say is, I wish I could've tried this sooner! My hair feels so amazing with it. I spent a weekend in Connecticut about 2 weeks ago and all I brought was jojoba oil to braid my hair down at night. I used that and water to seal my hair. Read some of the benefits of this oil here.

Since I've been wearing my hair out all week and experimenting with other products, I've been taking extra care of my ends. I seal with jojoba every night and I've rubbed my scalp with it. My ends and my hair have been looking and feeling great!

My ends

This is pretty much how I wore my hair all week

I think this may be replacing my beloved coconut oil. Although I still love to pre-poo with it =)

Flattered Twa =D

I went out shopping for different things to put my Halloween costume together yesterday and i'm so excited about my costume!!! 

While in an African store (Many random African items) on St. Marks street in SoHo, I found myself kinda staring at how beautiful this girl's natural hair was. It looked shiny and healthy and although she had it pinned up, i loved the way it looked. Upon leaving the store she stopped me and asked my what i had in my hair and she loved the way it looked so curly and full. I felt so flattered that she would ask my about my little TWA when hers was back in a ponytail :::a little long hair envy::: Lol. We got to talking and exchanged info, she was really nice... i love to meet nice new naturals :)

Thanks Najm!

Tomorrow i will do my hair the same way and with the same products i used. Although i had second day hair, i plan to wash in the morning and i should be able to do the same thing... or so i hope, lol. If not, i'll post photos tomorrow and then of my second day hair the next.

Look out for the Curly TWA Fro post!

How Natural Hair Is Percieved

I'm just going to make it plain: having natural hair doesn't make you the best person on the planet. It doesn't make you better then someone who relaxes or texturizes or simply wears their hair straight. It may look nice on you, but it doesn't make you a better person.

I know that people tend to make assumptions about women who sport the natural kinks and curls including the type of music we listen to, how deep and "Afro-centric" we are. Even our eating habits are looked at closely (we're vegetarians or vegans, apparently). While I don't want to get too much into my identity (check out my other blog for that) I will say that as a woman of color who sports her natural hair, my music choices are random, from M.I.A. and Santigold to Michael Jackson and Sting; although I'm college-educated with a broad vocabulary, I can be crude and curse like a sailor; while I do identify with being a black woman, I don't really embrace being afro-centric and man, do I love to eat hamburgers and the steak tacos from Chipotle. Just saying.

I have encountered some nasty women who happen to be natural. It was shocking to me, because I somehow expected more from them. But in the end, the woman with the long beautiful locks doesn't know how to talk to people. And the young lady sporting a TWA rolls her neck when talking to someone. The girl with the beautiful puff in my freshman Anthropologie class is being a smart-alleck to a well respected professor. It's just the way the people are and their beautiful kinks and curls don't hide their ugly attitudes.

Women with natural hair are awesome, don't get me wrong. When I see one of us walking around I wonder about their journey, about how they became confident enough to wear their hair the way it is. But I've let go of thinking that they were somehow more conscious or somehow more enlightened. My fellow co-blogger SP had relaxed hair and I always thought she was fly. And now that she is natural I am amazed at her journey and how she's redefining her awesomeness =)

I'm turning it over to you guys; what are some misconceptions about women with natural hair or relaxed hair? How were you treated when you were relaxed vs. being natural?

I chopped again ....

Well that last install definitely didn't last me too long as i got tired of trying to blend the edges in with the weave. My edges are my biggest problem so i wouldn't want to do something that would cause more harm than help.
Upon taking my install down, i decided it was time for the color to go. With about 2 inches of roots, i saw how silky my completely natural texture was against the colored hair and was tired of dealing with the constant split ends and single strand knots the color damaged hair was causing. So i chopped...
(About half way done... bye bye red hair)

I made some videos of me cutting my hair so once i figure out how to post em i'll get em up there for your viewing pleasure! lol