My BIG POOF!

So since I’m locked out of my computer. I figured I’d say “HEY Y’ALL” and give y’all an update.

I have become SO LAZY with doing my hair! I mean I feel like there was this big monumental event for me to ‘go natural’ and yes it was fun and it was new and exciting but now man I’m realizing that THIS MESS IS NOT EASY! Its frustrating and I’m going to tell you guys. The longer it gets the MORE TIME IT TAKES! Which is not terrible but I’m just warning you. You will need to spend more type and invest in more conditioner. And finding winter protective styles that don’t make me look like a boy has been quite challenging. However the one style that never fails me is the bun! That has become my no doubt “I need to do something quick because I look a hot mess” hair style.

So far I’ve done two variations of the bun. One involves the sock method. Although I have a lot of hair the sock makes the bun look more defined. The other is my favorite. And you can create this bun-esk look (faux bun) by putting your hair into a high puff, dividing hair into four chunky twist (one sticking straight up, straight down, left, & right like a compass) and bobby pin the ends inward to the center of the puff. Because my hair is longer I like to bobby pin the twist so that it forms an “X” which looks really nice and clean. Its THAT EASY!!! I receive soooo many compliments and it really only takes 5 mins to do. So if you’re looking to experiment w buns try this method. I’ll post the YouTube video tutorial that I watched.

Hey y’all! I’ve been MIA for a MINUTE and I truly apologize but I was hard at work. Thanks for being super patient and understanding however I feel like I do owe some sort of explanation. Well…I STARTED MY OWN BUSINESS!!!!! I am the UBER PROUD owner of TULIPS & A DAISY CREATIONS www.tulipsandadaisy.etsy.com !!! This is something that I’ve been working on for two YEARS and its FINALLY UP AND RUNNING!

So what is this business all about? Great question! Its about providing handmade accessories for eccentric, afrocentric, hippie, eclectic, unique women like us! Women who aren’t afraid of color and a little sass.

Right now I have button earrings, big beaded statement bracelets, and yo yo earrings up for sale. Everything is vibrantly colored and sure to be conversation starters. Most importantly EVERYTHING is handmade my ME :) I am SO PUMPED UP!!! The only down fall is that I love everything that’s in the shop… so much that it’s hard to sell them away lol.

So that’s where I’ve been. This is why I’ve been kind of quiet on the social media front. I hope you understand :) Check me out at www.tulipsandadaisy.etsy.com and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TulipsAndADaisy

I can’t explain to you how annoyed I am right now. I did the whole mini chop last October-ish and just like any poofy haired girl I couldnt WAIT until my hair got long! Well let me tell you something that I JUST realized… THE LONGER YOUR HAIR IS THE MORE TIME YOU HAVE TO DEDICATE TO TAMING IT! YIKES! Now I am not complaining I am still very much so in love with her (and by “her” I mean my hair… and Rosario Dawson lol) but this is definitely something that I have to learn to manage.

I have noticed that since last Oct my hair texture has changed. It hasnt done a full 180 but it is a difference. For starters my curl pattern is more defined. It went from kind of a selectively curly whispy wavy kind of thing to pencil width spiral curls. Towards maybe April of 2012 it became SUPER curly and kind of tight but now that my hair is longer (August 2012) my hair is heavier and my curls are kind of stretching out which is a slightly different look (maybe I should post a comparison photoset).

As much as I was fighting it, I think its time to do some protective low maintenance styles. My goto curly poofy ponytail has become a full sized afro in a ponytail holder o_O. And my wash n go’s… are not what they use to be. I pull it off well but Im not super satisfied with it but since I have been obsessively on travel (NY, TN, OH, NJ, FL, TX and VEGAS in the fall I CANT WAIT) it has been hard to really keep up with my hair. Especially with the harsh sun in the south and the humidity on the East Cost. I really think my hair needs a break. Ive decided to attempt two strand twist… stay tuned.

Yes, really! So I received my first CurlBox a few weeks ago and I will not lie to you girls, initially I was super disappointed. For starters they had a Luster’s Pink Oil sample which immediately brought back memories of middle school and dry hair (Pink oil was full of alcohol and other bad stuff back then). But the product line has been revamped which is cool but truth be told I tested it out and I still don’t really like it (ehh). But the main thing that really made me ball my face up were the two full size bottles of Motions Naturally You. I haven’t used Motions hair products since back in my permed hair days. I immediately thought… “Are you serious?This is not going to work out I’m just going to give it away” BUT I gave in and I tried it… and O…M…G it was amazing!

I literally said “OMG” in the shower. It smelled sooooo good! I was especially skeptical of using the cleanser. Mainly because of the sulfates that are in it (it is not sulfate free - not that it really bothers me so much but I just needed to add that) and the fact that I don’t really like to “shampoo” my hair often (I like to co-wash) so when I do shampoo I usually just lather one really good time, rinse, and condition. Well, the shampoo was so moisturizing that I actually thought I still had residual oil in my hair after one lather so I shampooed AGAIN to make sure my hair was clean… turns out it wasn’t dirt or residual oil MY HAIR WAS MOISTURIZED! SAY WHAAAAAAT! YES!

The conditioner is really thick which I LOVE but a little really does go a long way and it gave me great slick. I always OD on conditioner but I really didn’t have to with this product. Even though it was a rinse out conditioner I did not need to apply a leave in (like KnotToday) to detangle. This amazed me. I simply used my personal shea butter mixture to seal in the moisture detangled with my wide tooth shampoo comb and that was that. No additional products needed.

Lesson Learned: Try things out before you draw conclusions and don’t be afraid to experiment. I’m glad I was able to get past the brand, I actually discovered a product that was easy on the pockets (about $12.50 total for the cleanser and conditioner) and feels great on my hair :)

The temperature in DC has hit the 105 degree mark which means ITS TIME TO JUMP IN THE POOL! This is my first summer as a 100% natural hair chica and I was SUUUPER press to dunk my head under the water for the first time since I was a kid. It was such a liberating experience. But eventho I was able to actually enjoy swimming again it came with a little prep work.

Chlorine can wreck your hair! So to prepare for it I whipped up a little of what I call my pre-poo(l) conditioner. Its really easy and its made of things you already own (3 parts conditioner, 1 part melted shea butter, and 1 part EVOO). I LOVE Shea Moisture so thats what I used (see pics). Stir it all together and let it sit for a little while. WARNING - It will look really funky at first, kind of like cottage cheese until the oil mixes in with the conditioner. Let it solidify a bit then stir again and it will become smoother and super thick (which is what you want). Thickness depends on the conditioner you use but PS. Shea Moisture products are one sale at Target for $7.99 this week.

Use your spray bottle to saturate your hair with water. Simple laws of science, if your hair is already saturated water it will not be able to absorb as much of the chlorinated water when you get into the pool (ah ha why didn’t I think of that - right?). After you saturate your hair with water use a generous amount of your pre-poo(l) conditioner paying close attention to your ends. Pull your hair in two high pony tails and twist + bobby-pin your ends down (this prevents annoying post-pool tangles). I added a headband to make it semi cute (and just in case pieces of hair came out of the pony tail) and TA-DAAAA! There you have it folks. Protected pool ready hair.

When you get out of the pool be sure to RINSE WELL! I rinsed my hair and went on about my day. I just rocked the curly fro (tangle free btw) because I had things to do… I know its kind of trifling but seriously there just isnt enough time in the day to wash, detangle, section blah blah blah I didn’t have time for that. My curls were defined and my hair was super soft as a result of using my pre-poo(l) conditioner. I did a light shampoo (1 application) and leave in conditioner before I went to bed (because I was scared I missed some of the chlorine) but my hair never felt dry and it never smelled like stinky chlorine.

Give it a try and tell me what you think. Stay cool!

Idk where you live but in Maryland it has been hot as boots!!! I thought that wearing the natural do would be easier since I’m no longer battling with the 30 degree mornings, hats, scarves and dryness but LAWD was I wrong! So yes, it is waaaay easier to wash n go (my summer style preference) but y’all… I have been having the absolute worst bad natural hair days! It absorbs moisture and just POOFS! Twist outs are my mortal enemy as of lately unless I’m doing a really funky updo. It looks a hot mess! So I discovered a new love… I think I love this product line more than chocolate and shoes CURL JUNKIE! specifically the Curl Junkie Banana Hibiscus Conditioner and Cleansing Conditioner. Seriously I wash and GO. I get up at 4am, shower and wash hair lightly finger detangle in the shower (this is the best cowash next to my Mix-Chicks Deep Conditioner co-wash) and OD on the Banana and Hibiscus Conditioner which is a leave in. And walk out the door by 5:10am with fresh brewed coffee in hand. That simple. My curls are amazingly defined, non sticky and my hair smells sooooo yummy! It’s pricey $20 - $22 a piece but it is well worth it. Since I finally got my curl box subscription a few weeks ago (i cant wait for my first box) I’m trying not to spend extra money to satisfy my product junkiness lol but I HAVE to restock on this stuff. It’s truly amazing!