In the mirror with Mrs. Honey Dip

So I've been off work this week and let's just say that I've gotten to know my mirror (and my hair) pretty well.  LOL!!  I still haven't tried half the styles I've wanted to try yet.  I really don't want to manipulate my hair a whole lot because I'm terrified it's going to come out or break off.  Don't ask me why.  I've just been freaking out about my hair since it's been loose.  Example:  I was supposed to get a professional trim/shape up on Tuesday.  That didn't happen.  I freaked out!  I think to the point of making myself sick.  I woke up that morning with a horrible headache so I canceled my appointment. :(  I know, crazy, right?  Well, come to find out it was really my blood pressure that was making me sick but stressing out about my hair did NOT help AT ALL!!  I'm gonna try to get a handle on that.

So this is what I've tried so far this week:

The famous big flower on the side.

I think every nappy has a flower.

I brought out the specs for this one.

I look like I'm still in college (I wish)

Old 80s look.

Pinned up on both sides, somewhat of a frohawk.

I borrowed my husband's hat for this one.

I REALLY liked this one and ...

...decided to wear it out.

You couldn't tell me I wasn't cute!!

This is my Thanksgiving evening style.

Flat twist crown.

Me and my boo on Thanksgiving.

I had fun this week playing in my fro and accessorizing.  Too bad it's back to work next week. I think I'm going to wear a protective style for the week so I won't have to manipulate as much.  I'm still looking for a few more protective styles to wear this winter.  I want to grow longer, healthy hair because I don't want the loc take down to have been in vain.

Do you guys have any suggestions for protective styles other than two strand twists?

Til next time, thanks for reading.  Be blessed.

Feature: My BFF Kenya

I featured my best friend, Kenya, on my other blog Honey Dipped Locs back in June. She is currently transitioning.  I want to share with you here what's been going on with her lately.  Be sure to check out the original feature.

She's so cute!!

(She debo'd that butterfly headband from me.

I had to go buy myself another one!!)

Her last relaxer was in December 2009 (she would only relax about 4-5 times a year) and she officially decided to transition in April 2010.  She almost always wears a two strand twist out and it usually lasts a week to a week and a half.  This is her routine and products:

• Pre-poo: Olive oil and honey
• Shampoo: Shea Moisture Curl Shampoo
• Leave in: Cantu Leave In Conditioner
• To twist: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and my homemade gel
• Seal: Olive oil or Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade

She's not really planning a big chop because she wants to maintain her length but she did cut about 2 inches off about a week ago.  That's the plan until all the straight ends are gone.  She has about 4-5 inches of new growth and her hair grows pretty fast (in my opinion).  All we talk about now is hair, our favorite youtube videos and/or products we want to try.  She is my greatest supporter and motivator (besides my husband).  Show her some love!

Til next time, thanks for reading.  Be blessed.



One Week Loose

So my hair has been loose for 8 days now.  And I'm still in LOVE and still obsessed with my hair.  I just wanna share some things that I've noticed the past few days.  I've known for some time that my hair was thinning in the front.  I noticed it when I had locs and I'm still not too happy about it.  Look at this mess!

It's looks BAD and I get depressed just thinking about it. 

If ANYbody knows ANYthing that I can do about this, PLEASE let me know.

I'm very thankful that it's not that noticeable unless my hair is parted.

So Sunday was wash day.  I decided to detangle and just wear my hair as is.

It's pinned up on the side.

I wasn't really feeling it when I went out that day but 

as I look as this picture, it's not that bad.

My hair is actually much longer than it looks and I guess that's why I didn't like it.

Here  are  a few texture shots taken while my hair was still wet:

Back and side.  I'm really loving the color and I wish it was all over.

Tight, springy curls. Front view.

This is how I wore my hair today.

I didn't feel like being bothered.  It's just twisted under there.



I'm supposed to get my hair professionally trimmed  tomorrow and I'm very nervous about it.  I want to keep as much length as possible.  I'll definitely keep you posted on what happens with that.

I'm also thinking about coloring my hair but I don't know what color I want or how I want to do it (whole head or ends). I'm just a hair ball of emotions.

The last thing on my mind is how I'm going to wear my hair to the wedding of the year (in my circle) this weekend.  This couple has been together so long that people thought they were already married.  Anyway, these people haven't seen me since early October and I want to show off my hair. I was thinking about wearing an updo I call Humps and a Bump but it doesn't show my length.  So BFF suggested I find an updo that leaves some of the hair out.  I've been on youtube all night and I've come up with a few ideas.  I'll be trying them out over the next  few days to see which one I like best.  I'll definitely post pics so look for those this week.

So til next time, thanks for reading.  Be blessed.

Trying New Styles Already

So y'all know I live on youtube, right?  I've found a few styles that I want to try out.  Here's the first one that I've tried:

This is a cute protective style that I could wear for days.  I can dress it up or dress it down.  I wore it to work Friday with jeans.  The only thing I don't like is the pins.  My scalp is not used to pins and it's been wrecking havoc on me!  Once I figure out how to use the least amount of pins, it's ON!!  I plan to wear this next weekend to a wedding with a big flower on the side. So what do you think?

I think Sundays will be my shampoo day.  For right now, I think once a week is sufficient.  My hair is loving the butter me and BFF made last weekend.  It's light and keeps my hair moisturized and shiny.  I don't see myself becoming a product junkie simply because I can make my own stuff.  I do see myself becoming an accessory junkie though.  I'm into big earrings and different things to accent my hair, like headbands and decorative pins.  And the beauty supply store doesn't help because they these things super cheap.  Two dollars for the earrings in the picture!  So you see what I'm dealing with.  Being broke helps me keep my addiction in check. LOL.

I'm thinking about getting my hair professionally trimmed next week.  I'm not really sure if I want to.  I trimmed the ends as I took out each loc but my hair is all uneven in length.  I wanted to get it trimmed mainly to shape it up.  Hubby thinks I should leave it as it is.  I'm kinda nervous about it so I might just wait on that.  I'm also thinking about coloring my hair before the end of the year.  I haven't decided on a color yet so I'm gonna wait on that too.  Right now, I'm just enjoying the napps!

Til next time, thanks for reading.  Be blessed.

Fro-motions and Re-fro-actions

So my hair has been loose for a week now.  And an interesting week it has been.  First, I didn't initially expect to be done already but I'm SO happy I am!!  I am in love with my hair!  Unfortunately, not every one else is.

Re*fro*actions

My husband and kids like it.  My son can't keep his hands out of my fro!!

Coworkers have said nice things:

*Ms. P, your hair looks nice!*

*Ms. P, I love your fro!

Some students, mostly boys, are not as complimentary:

*Ms. P, what have you done to your hair?! (Do you like it?) NO!!

More than one student said that.  LOL!!

My parents have been even worse:

Me: So Ma, what do you think of my hair?

Mom: It's um. . . (shaking her head)

Me: (stupid grin on my face)

Me: Daddy, you haven't said what you think of my hair.

Daddy: It looks like a raggedy eraser!

Me: (stupid grin on my face)

WOW!! Thanks for your support guys.  Now mind you, my mom has a short salt and pepper fro herself.  She talks about nappy hair like it's a bad thing.  And my dad has worn a fro ALL his life.  As a matter of fact, their fros match!!

Aren't they cute?

Yeah, well they aren't as nice as they look!

A few days later with a new style:

Mom: (before I can get inside the house good) What have you done to your hair now? (Mom touching and looking)

Me: You don't like it?

Mom: It's alright.

Me: Daddy, what do you think?

Dad: It looks like it hasn't been combed

Mom: No, it actually looks combed.

Dad: And it looks dry.

Me: (same stupid grin)

WTH yall?!  I had no words.  I just started another conversation.  I'm not sure what their problem is but at  this point, I don't care.  I've always been a non-conformist and they have never really liked  it too much. Oh well.  They're just haters!

Fro*motions

I thought I would miss my locs.  I didn't think I was going to like my hair loose.  I was WRONG on both counts!! I'm not missing my locs and I LOVE my loose hair.  I LOVE playing in it.  I LOVE talking about it.  I LOVE taking pictures and sending them to everyone.  Who knows, I might keep my hair loose longer than I had planned.  Maintenance is not really a big deal.  I don't have to get up any earlier (just get up on time) and it's not a lot of work to prepare at night.  Right now, it's AWESOME!!   It's the perfect length and the perfect texture.  Can you tell I'm in love?

Til next time, thanks for reading.  I hope you're enjoying the new blog.  Be blessed.

*Disclaimer:  I hope I didn't paint a negative picture of my parents.  They have been very supportive with major decisions in my life, like having a baby at 20, divorcing and remarrying, and becoming a teacher. They just tend not to support less important decisions (to them) that express my individuality, like my locs, nose piercing, and tattoos.  But they're great parents. :)* 

You need to pick yo AFRO daddy (because it's flat on one side)

*originally posted 11/15/2010 on Honey Dipped Locs.*

So the wait is over y'all.  I'm done picking out all of my locs!  I started at 8:45 am yesterday and finished at 1:00 pm yesterday.  Pure excitement followed!!

My afro is far from flat!!

Unofficial  twist out

This is right after I finished the last loc and untwisted my hair 

but right before I washed it.

Cute already, huh?

The shrunken fro. 

After shampoo.  I LOVE IT!!!

Especially the color in the back.

New conditioner.  Hopefully it will does what is claims and

stimulates those follicles in the front so my hair can grow back.

And yes, it tingles like the other one I like. ;)

Hair shed from detangling.  Not a whole lot.

Probably because I detangled as I unlocked each loc.

Miss Celie twists for the night. 

I will definitely be wearing a twist out the next day because I look real country!!

 Great texture shot.  Nice back view.

End result.

This how I wore my hair to work today.  I didn't like it when I first undid my twists so I pulled it back a little and I was able to leave home with confidence.



So there you have it guys.  The locs are gone.  For now.  The question now is how long will I keep up with this maintenance of loose napps.  Stay tuned to find out.

Til next time,  thanks for reading.  Be blessed.