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| September 2003 - Now I know that I was just here updating this section...but here I am again as the weather has changed just that quick. First it got all hot real quick and I started on that bi-daily conditioner/shampoo rinses...whew that was feeling good there. And then it just got cold all of a sudden. Well...it's back to the cool weather regimen for me. |
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| Hair is still in tip-top shape...and I have been showcasing 2-strand twists on the regular lately. Washing and rinsing with them in and all. Giving me a hint to what it may feel like to be locked. Of course I realize that it is not the same...but it sure does feel good on me...:) Who knows what the years will bring...but I am sooooo enjoying my free-form right now and have got some serious hand-in-fro disease...still. |
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| Can't keep my hands out of my hair...always want to twist, braid, cornrow, part, wash...something...always. Now I have been keeping my twists in for two week intervals...but I am always doing something to them. Then I get the whole...gotta take them out right now vibe and comb through my hair with conditioner and all that. So enjoying my nappy hair yall...everything about it thrills me...still. |
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| August 2003 - WHEW...it's been some time since I have updated this section for ya...and I most definitely have something to brag about. The overall condition of my hair is more than just good...I have been able to keep it healthy, moisturized, and growing. |
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| I am soooo happy to bring this news to you because I am able to testify to the absolute pleasure of being natural and my resolution to give up the 'creamy crack' has been the best thing that I have ever done (after the birth of my child)...I do not regret it a bit, highly recommend it to all. So if you are still wondering what to do with that head of yours...please add me and my experience to the vast and growing list of naturals that are happy to be nappy. |
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| January 2003 - Transitioning stage is completely OVAHHH!! YES!! I am so happy about that yall...Whew...what a relief. 10 months later I am my nappy self again. It's been at least 13 years since I have seen my hair in it's completely kinky state. WOW...is what I say to that. Again, to all of those that have been staying tuned to my 'revelation' thanks for your support. All of the e-mails, and shout out's on my album and messageboard have been greatly appreciated and inspiring. I know that I have made the right decision to get back to my to my roots, literally...lol. |
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| BIG CHOP...December 2002. It was done professionally in the wonderful salon of Keith Campbell. You may recognize the name from the pages of Essence Magazine. He is a New York City hair stylist/designer extrodinare, that has recently opened up his own studio, C.O.I., in the borough of Brooklyn
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| His hands have graced the wonderful models of Essence Magazine as well as celebrities. Such as Serena Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and the cast of the hit show 'Girlfriends'. |
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| Traditionally, C.O.I. is a studio that caters to mostly relaxed hair. However, Mr. Campbell does have some clients that fall into our realm. Nappy friendly environment that does have a stylist there that does do natural cornrows and braids (not extensions though). |
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| As you all know, I have been cutting down on my ends for all of these months. So, Mr. Campbell really only needed to give me a hefty trim to rid me of all of the relaxed ends that I had left. Leaving me with a wonderful shape. Then he curled my hair into small curls using a light, small barrel curling iron. Very gentle was his touch. My hair felt like smooth 'goose down' feathers. I was extremely pleased. |
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| After doing my own hair for all of these months, it was sheer pleasure and joy to have experienced hands doing the job for me. Ahh...what a relief, sooooo relaxing. I will definitely be doing that again. It's soooo worth it. Like a total head massage...AHH! |
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| After going home that evening, and going into the shower (being exposed to steam) my hair took on it's true texture with a wonderful style. Kinky curls, defined, shiny, soft, just lovely. Then I went out on the town and continued to celebrate the day with close friends and family. A truly fantastic day. |
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| October 2002 - I am still transitioning people...seven months in (I know I can hardly believe it either). Some of you have been with me, watching me 'Reveal' my natural self from the very beginning. Thanks for staying tuned in to my journey. |
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| A transitioning Natural Nappy online surfing, discovering, exploring, learning, teaching, sharing, & exchanging. Whew -- this is just great! Feeling positive, feeling good!! |
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| Now, I am in the winding down time of my transitioning stage...soon to be the 'Hey everybody, I just did the BIG CHOP & ...' stage. I have grown, my hair has grown too LOL...and I have plenty more to share with you all. My hair is doing just fine, it's still in good condition. Big Chop is just around the corner now, maybe by the end of the year...if I can hold out that long. |
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| July 2002 - I am currently in the transitioning stage of my journey. I have some new growth with relaxed ends. I have been very reluctant to do the "Big Chop". It seems that I have been doing O.K. since I have not had any breakage or split ends. My hair is in good condition (so far) even with the straight ends. I may have to get those scissors soon though. Updates will be on the rise. |
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| Since my last regimen update, I have been washing my hair like almost every day...1 part conditioner 1/2 part shampoo. Lather really well...comb through, and re-apply any extra conditioner that may arise from the comb out. Then smooth my hair making sure that my hair is saturated with conditioner from root to tip. Leave on for about 3 - 5 minutes...(in a warm shower) and then rinse with luke warm water and following with an acv rinse. Gently squeeze my hair to get the excess water out. Then I spritz my scalp with my own scalp/hair spritz...then lightly apply my Conditioning Leave-In Smoothie to my twists...from root to tip while avoiding the scalp...then allow my twists to air dry. And presto...beautiful shining, soft and well conditioned tresses. |
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| I have also updated my wash product regimen...already...lol. Still using the Nature's Gate Awapuhi Shampoo but I am now also using the matching conditioner (Nature's Gate Awapuhi Conditioner) which I am luvin' up sooooo much. This will be my latest staple for the upcoming cool weather. The Shampoo and Conditioner products are sooooo gentle and kind to my hair. Without the harsh detergents that are found in some other brands. Perfect for the season ahead. |
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| Since my last regimen update, I have been washing my hair every 3 - 4 days or so...due to the warm weather. I am still using Nature's Gate...(I luv that stuff...) but I am using the Awapuhi Shampoo with the Aloe Vera Conditioner. The combination is just heavenly on my tresses...clean, soft, managable hair with not the slightest bit of dryness after the wash. |
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| The Awapuhi Shampoo is very gentle and is ideal for those that prefer to wash their hair several times during the week. Which is usually the case during the warmer months of the year. |
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| I believe that I even prefer it over their Herbal Shampoo...(though it sure does smell like something delicious)...However the Herbal Conditioner is still nice... |
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| The Aloe Vera Conditioner has been my staple through out the summer though due to it's coffee and wild pansy extract content...both known for their sunscreen abilities...and I have definitely been exposed this summer. Showing off my nappy hair EVERYWHERE with glee!! |
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| So my deal is to wash 1 - 2 times with shampoo, warm water rinse, apply conditioner...I lather it all up on there...:)...comb through, and re-apply any extra conditioner that may arise from the comb out. Then smooth my hair making sure that my hair is saturated with conditioner from root to tip. Leave on for about 3 - 5 minutes...(in a warm shower) and then cool water rinse. |
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| Since my last regimen update, I have been washing my hair every seven days or so (just once a week). I have not felt the need to continue the twice a week shampoo routine due to the cold (BRR) New York City winter that we have been having. We have not had a winter this cold for like a decade. Sheesh man. |
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| Anyways, I have continued on with using Nature's Gate Herbal Shampoo & Herbal Conditioner. The combo is still the bomb, but I am having to use sooooo much more conditioner now that my hair is truly all natural now. It just soaks it up. In the shower, I wash twice, then rinse, then put in the conditioner, leave that on for the duration of my shower. Squeeze dry, apply my own shea butter moisturizer and move on. |
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| For the most part I air dry, like 90% of the time. But due to the extremely cold weather, I have on occasion had to use my ionic dryer or else I would surely catch pneumonia. |
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| Since my last regimen update, I have been washing my hair every four days or so (almost like twice a week). I have finished up my Organic Root Stimulator Uplifting Shampoo, and now I am using Nature's Gate Herbal Shampoo & Herbal Conditioner. I am soooooooo loving this combo. Leaves my hair so soft, clean, and moisturized...smells great! |
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| I wash and rinse my hair like twice, then move on to the conditioner. I let the conditioner sit in my hair for about 5 - 10 minutes, unless I am deep conditioning. |
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| I have been deep conditioning my hair once about every 3 weeks. But with the colder weather coming up...I may increase that to like once a week. Gotta keep that moisture 'locked' in. |
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| In the beginning, I made sure to deep condition, with the heat cap on, every week faithfully. My hair has become stronger because of it and since I started in warm weather...I didn't really have to overdo it. After the first couple of months, the regained strength in my natural hair afforded me the convenience of waiting once every 3 weeks for a deep conditioning. That was great for the summer months. |
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| Now I want to change it up a bit, since this will be my first winter (cold season) with my Natural Hair. |
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| Every week I wash my hair with Organic Root Stimulator and a Conditioner (at the same time). I wash and rinse 2-3 times. Then I use Aveda Sap Moss conditioner. This is great for detangling hair. I leave it on my head for about 30 minutes or so with a conditioning cap on. I don't use heat. Then rinse out. Smear on a bit of pure coconut oil. I may put in either flat twists, cornrows, or puff knots (method from the book "Let's Talk Hair", by Pamela Ferrell) then air dry. That's it. |
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| Yes still luvin' my acv rinse...but lately I have been doing this 'uplifting treatment' for all of those conditioner rinses that I have been doing lately. Baking Soda Wash w/Apple Cider Vinegar after rinse...check it out on my pre-treatment section of my products page. |
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| Don't forget to get back to this section for more...:) |
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| And that is what I do these days...very similar to my last 'special conditioning' journal entry...but a bit more modified. Also have really felt the need to do it like on a weekly bases due to the conditioning rinses...I don't want to get any sort of scalp build-up flakes...YUCK...so to greatly avoid that fate I have taken preventative measures. |
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| Now that the weather is cooling down...everything will slow down just a bit. I will not be out there freezing my head off in the cold weather is only gaining speed on this city. So those bi-daily rinses with the weekly 'uplifting treatment' will be put on the back burner for right now. |
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| Still rolling with my apple cider vinegar rinse yall...I just use as needed to combat minor 'itchies' and to clarify my scalp. |
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| From time to time (three month intervals so far) I may feel the need to clarify my hair...and I use good 'ole baking soda for that. I use the same amount of shampoo that I would use for a washing and then add about a palm full of baking soda...(so it's like one part shampoo and two parts baking soda...adjust for length and thickness of your hair) and apply to my hair & scalp thoroughly. Massaging my scalp during the process. I allow the mixture to rest on my head for at least 5 minutes, then warm water rinse. Then condition..voila...clean, fresh, invigorated, scalp and hair. |
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| Have not had to do a hot oil treatmeant in quite some time now, same goes for deep conditioning (with a heating cap and all that)...I expect that may change once the weather gets cold and dry again though. |
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| Also...I have the benefit of utilizing my signature products (Conditioning Leave-In Hair Smoothie, Recovery Scalp Oil) after every washing and conditioning and I know that they have make my hair healthier by leaps and bounds. I towel squeeze my hair after washing and conditioning my hair, smear on some of my own home made 'Hair Butter' (Conditioning Leave-In Hair Smoothie - it's a conditioning butter pomade - but smmmoooooother than the rest...;) product, and proceed to the styling with a bit of the CHS on my ends...air dry...that's it. Making 'extra' special conditioning not as much of a priority as it was last summer. |
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| I am sooooooooo happy to say that ALL of my testers are just raving about it right now...which definitely is giving me a grand boost of confidence in the product and my own capabilities as a hair products crafter. |
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| Don't worry I will be able to share more very soon...;) |
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| The only special conditioning that I have felt that I need to do now is to do an apple cider vinegar rinse. To combat minor 'itchies' as well as add shine with the extra conditioning that this treatment provides. Other than that, I have not really had to do anything else lately. |
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| I have completely stopped using Organic Root Stimulator Mayo in my now all natural hair. It just does not do the job for me any longer. It was a great transitional product and I still recommend it to any transitioner, but it just sits on my hair now. Dare I say that my natural hair is in such great condition that I just don't need it right now. Things could change as the weather changes. We will see. But my Nature's Gate Herbal Conditioner works absolutely wonderful on my hair on it's own at the moment. I believe it's the regular use of my own moisturizer that has just really healed my hair and has reduced the need for the deep conditioning regimen that I was doing before. |
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| My hair is totally moisturized, no split ends, soft, manageable and growing. Totally loving my nappy hair. |
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| I do not do as much special conditioning right now as I used to. The condition of my hair has greatly improved so I haven't felt the 'GREAT' need for it. At least, not as much as I needed it in the beginning of my journey. I do still deep condition though. |
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| When I do deep condition, I use the same Nature's Gate Herbal Conditioner, smear it on my hair and I also apply a bit of Organic Root Stimulator Mayo to my hair. This is of course is after I have washed my hair out with shampoo, and towel blotted the excess water from my hair. Then I cover my hair with a plastic cap and put on my heating cap (on top of that) for about 15 - 25 minutes. Rinse the conditioner out of my hair with water, and then I may use an ACV 'Final' rinse after that. |
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| I have taken to boiling some herbs, like a broth (LOL) and let the liquid cool down. Then I take 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar and mix it into 3 parts of the 'herbal broth' then rinse it over my hair. Ohhhh, I just love how my scalp feels after this. All of the itchies (if any) are totally gone, feeling clean and refreshed. My hair feels softer and I have no problems with the comb thru. |
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| I towel squeeze my hair, smear on some of my own home made 'Hair Butter' product, and proceed to the styling ;)...air dry...that's it. |
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| BTW...I do not use ApHOGEE protein treatment ANYMORE!! Since my hair is going back to it's original state, my hair is not reacting well to certain products that were like a holy grail (lol) to me when I was still relaxing my hair. The last time that I used it, my hair was ridiculously dry, not able to pass any sort of comb through it properly. Which caused more hair to come out on the comb than I would like or have seen in a LONG time, SHEESH! Making my hair feel like stripped wood YUCK...Bye-Bye ApHOGEE! |
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| Every 2 weeks I use a Deep Conditioner - Organic Root Stimulator Mayo is what I use now. I will generously apply to my freshly washed and towel squeezed hair (very light squeeze's, no rubbing of the towel on my head, just so it is not dripping - dripping - dripping). I will then cover my head with a conditioning cap and use my heating cap over that and leave it on for about 30 minutes. |
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| I then take it off and still leave the conditioning cap on for about another 30 minutes or so -- I can take care of some light chores while all this is going on. Then I take it off and I rinse out the conditioner. I then follow up with a final rinse -- I use the Optimum brand Synthesis III. 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar - with three parts water is also excellent. It returns the pH balance to your hair and smoothly closes up the cuticles in the hair. This promotes great shine and good health for the hair and scalp. |
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| I then gently squeeze dry my hair -- Smear some pure coconut oil on it -- flat twists or cornrows. Air dry, that's it. |
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| Spritzing, Spritzing, Spritzing...this has been my thing for my scalp lately. Following a very basic formula like the one below in the August 2003 'Scalp Treatment' journal entry. My scalp is just loving it. Nice and light with a pleasent fragrance that fills my space. I have not even used any sort of perfume/scent since using this spritz...the scent is just rich enough for me and I don't want to mesh it with anything else. |
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| Still rolling with the Recovery Scalp Oil of course. And will be picking that up even more now that the colder weather is upon us. |
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| I am still oiling my scalp with my very own signature brand Recovery Scalp Oil...but not nearly as much right now...usually only after a fresh wash and condition while styling my hair. And this oil has made my hair grow like WOW over the past couple of months. |
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| But I now have just become addicted to fresh water spritzes...home made of course. I just luv it...and my scalp luvs it too. Here is one combo that I just luv and know will be beneficial to all those that want to refresh their scalp with a light touch for the hot weather... |
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| 1 oz oil infusion...(use your favorite brand...of course my favorite brand is my own Recovery Scalp oil or my Scalp Oil Type 1) |
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| 10 drops of rosemary essential oil |
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| 5 - 7 drops of either tea tree oil (itchies) or mint (fresh) essential oil |
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| 5 drops of orange essential oil |
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| Shake and go...apply to scalp as needed...should last for like 5 days or so for most folks. Your scalp will be refreshed, clean, conditioned, and will promote the foundation for healthy hair growth. All while smelling great. Believe you me I am working on a formulation to make available to the public along with extended recipes for kitchen crafters... |
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| ...Truly great for locks, twists, coils, braids...styles where your scalp is more exposed and easy to get to. Keeping me cool this summer, rocking my two-strand twists flawlessly. I never knew it could be this good. |
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| Still oiling my hair only when needed. About every other day now, very light touch with my oil dropper to avoid overflow...lol. |
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| I have not been spritzing my hair lately. The oil has been doing an excellent job of keeping my hair well moisturized. Also, it's just too cold to keep my head that wet all the time. So just some oiling of my scalp just before going into a steamy shower does the job for me these days. |
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| My hair has been staying damp enough to section into parts and then cornrow (that's right, the cornrowed 'leave it alone method' has been too good for my hair to abandon it now...lol) without the addition of the spritz. That will probably change when the weather heats up again. I will also be wearing more 'all out' styles when the weather heats up too. |
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| Now I am oiling my hair only when needed. Which seems to be every 3 days or so. Since my last update, I have noticed that I can go a bit longer now in between direct scalp treatment. Must be improving...exactly what I have been waiting for. |
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| I do still use a spritz for my hair. I use 1 part conditioner, 1 part glycerin, a few drops of an essential oil and 3 parts bottled water. Works great for my hair, keeps it moisturized while I am styling or in between styles (I'll spritz it right on my cornrows). |
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| I oil my scalp every other night right before I hit the steam of the shower. This way the oil will work into my hair and scalp more efficiently since the steam will open up my pores on my scalp and the cuticles of my hair. Then I use a polyester, satin, or silk scarf to tie it down for the night. That's it. |
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| Now don't you go laughing and stuff!! |
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| What's that in your trunk? Huh, nuttin'. |
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