9 Months Post BC (Big Chop)!

December 10, 2010 marked my ninth month nappiversary since I chopped off all of my relaxed ends. I had shoulder length relaxed hair but I didn't mind...I was ready to start over and regrow a much healthier head of NATURAL hair!! So far, my progress has been tremendous!! At times it is a little difficult to see the progess in my growth but using pictures along my journey helps a great deal! So if you are a little down because it appears that you aren't seeing any growth, start snapping some pics and soon you will be amazed! Happy Healthy Hair Growth Curlies!!!
~NaturallyCreole~

http://www.youtube.com/user/NaturallyCreole <-- Check out my Youtube vlog and join me on my journey!!

New Style: Flat Twist Crown

On any given day, I’ll browse photos on NaturalSunshine.com and Youtube trying to get some ideas on how to style my twa.  Sometimes, I’ll see a cute style and think to myself, “my hair texture is not like hers so it probably won’t look that way on me” or “my hair isn’t as long as hers so that probably won’t work.” …Now I know I tend to over think some things but I also know I’m NOT the only curly girl that has those thoughts…Heck you don’t even have to rock natural hair to have those type of thoughts!! Lol.  But then I realized that thinking that way won’t get me anywhere so… I press on!!  I came across this particular style from a few videos I watched on Youtube and thought, hmmm, that’s simple yet cute!!  But of course, the other negative, discouraging thoughts immediately followed. I decided to brush them aside and said to myself, “Whatever!” One day I was bored with doing the same ole slicked back or bobby pinned edges with headband look and wanted something a little different so I tried the style I found and it turned out pretty cute…if I may say so myself, lol!!  Take a look:

A slight change can make a BIG difference right!…

Or if you want to get a little more adventurous (LOL!) you can do two (2) flat twists instead of one…

What do you think??

To accomplish this either look, I defined my curls using Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel.  Then followed the next few steps:

1.  After co-washing my hair, I sectioned off rows of my damp hair (starting from the back bottom row).

2. Next, I added my leave in conditioner to the section followed by either castor oil or Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie (found at Target) to seal in moisture.

3. Then I added the gel throughout the sectioned off hair…(be mindful not to add too much gel! The gel will distribute throughout the hair while brushing it through)…I used my [knockoff] Denman brush to detangle and brush the product through.  After detangling, brush the hair in an upward motion while twisting the brush (kind of like using a curling iron to curl flip the hair up).  This will create spiral curls at the ends of your hair. 

4. Use your fingers to separate the curls to make them individual.  Note**handling the hair too much can cause frizz**

5. Continue to section off hair row by row and follow steps 1-4 until the entire head is done.

6. Make a small part on side of head (whatever side you like) and part a small section in the front.  Flat twist the sectioned off portion going downward.  When you get to the end of the twist, pin the end back with a bobby pin. 

7. Take the small section on the other side that was left out and use gel to slick back edges.  Lightly brush the hair back with hands or soft bristle brush.  Then use a few bobby pins to hold the section in place.

YOU ARE DONE!!

To maintain style the next few days use an aloe vera juice/vegetable glycerin mix to spray on your curls to revive them.  Use tips of fingers to fluff and shape your twa. 

Untwist your flat twist and retwist.  You can re-gel and re-pin the small section on the other side and you are DONE!! 

**Optional: Add gel to your baby hairs and brush in place for a more finished look!

 I can stretch this style for a week!!!  Give it a try!  It’s EASY as PIE! J

Be Blessed!

~NaturallyCreole~

How Are You at Juggling??

This post is for any woman who feels like they have several roles to juggle on a daily basis…so this means ALL OF US!  It can be roles such as being a student-daughter-girlfriend or as in my case, wife-mother-full time employee-sister-daughter-student …whew, that’s a mouthful!  Many of us have to balance a lot of different roles and still maintain our sanity!!  Right now, I work full time and at work I deal with a lot of nonsense.  The expectations at my job are sometimes out of control but I have to keep some cash flowing in my house until I’m blessed with a better position or become self-employed.  Next, I am a wife! Enough said! Lol. I’m a mother of 3 wonderful kids BUT all 3 require a lot of time and attention.  For example, I was up at 3am a few times this week because my 5 yr old son suffers from CVA (cough-variant asthma). That disease is so disheartening because I feel that I should be able to do more for him (another post topic, I know).  My 12 year old son is now starting to get into that “it’s all about me” phase.  He takes pictures of himself everyday now, lol.  And my 2 yr old daughter, Whew!  She is a true Princess-DIVA-Tomboy, lol.  She is very strong-minded already and rough as the boys but still wants her nails polished at the end of the day! 

I have two older sisters but many times I feel like I’m the oldest.  Or at least I feel responsible for making sure they are okay.  And my mother has been a single parent for many years so ya’ll know I have to make sure she’s not in need (as best as I can).  Now for my role as student…I finished my Masters last year (May 09) but I’m applying for admittance into a Ph.D program hopefully next month.  It’s an online program but even that will require some finagling of my time.  Of course there are other smaller roles I play, (e.g. young girl mentor at church, friend, etc.) but for the most part the main roles I play can have me extra exhausted!  So what do you do to combat the exhaustion you say? 

Well, first I try to pray that God helps me to balance all the roles He has set before me.  Remember, God will not give you more than you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

 Second, I definitely take some time out for myself!! Both of these are MUST Do’s ladies!  When I say take some time out for you, I’m simply saying take maybe 1-2 hours a week and do something for yourself.  You can go get your nails and eyebrows done, have coffee with a friend, walk around the mall and make a wishlist of items you’ll purchase later on, go to a movie your husband won’t watch with you, or even go thrift shopping!!  I make it a point to do sometime for myself whenever possible.  I LOVE LOVE shopping so it’s nothing for me to steal an hour away and go to Forever 21, NY & Company, H&M, Target or whatever store I have in mind that day.  I’ll even go to a drug store and buy some new makeup to try.  It just doesn’t take much for me to shop! Lol.  Anyway, just do something.  I know many of us feel guilty when we do for ourselves because we feel we are neglecting out children or our households.  Remember, if you don’t take care of yourself, you may not be around long enough to take care of your children, husbands, or home because you’ll be locked away in a mental institution. Lol…I laugh but I’m Serious!   No one can take care of you like YOU!

Let me add by saying, I don’t have it all together! There are times when I spend more time shopping then cleaning my house or more time with my children than with my husband.  Understand that none of us are perfect, but as long as you have a priority list and know what’s important you can always refer back to it! This way you can remain being that virtuous wife-soccer mom-employee of the month-role model sister-helpful daughter-4.0 student-AND Natural YOU that God has created you to be!! 

So tell me what are some things you all do to stay sane or how do you all juggle your many roles? Do tell! I may learn something from you!! Until next time, Be Blessed Naturals!!

~NaturallyCreole~

Black Hole...

The more I look the deeper this black hole of debt seems to get.  So how come every payday I feel like my money was just transferred straight from my account to the hands of a thousand bill collectors! Lol...kinda funny...but not really ;-( I feel like I don't get to enjoy any of my hard earned cash so I sneak a little away from the bills to "enjoy life" for a weekend and but that does nothing but make this black hole of debt a little deeper! There has got to be a way to catch up and end this cycle, right? Don't get me wrong, there are things in my life I enjoy *like my husband, my children (3), my extended family and my house (just to name a few)* I'm thankful for that but I want more...I want better!  Wouldn't you? Don't you? Well, we have to start somewhere and I'm not one to be very organized with budget spreadsheets and all but I always know I can start with Prayer...pray and ask God to show you a starting point and to help you to continue on that path (to financial freedom) that He has set forth for you!! I'm starting today!  What are YOU going to do???

What To Do With This Head of Mine...

Defined Curls

Today...no this week...No, the past 2 weeks I haven't had a clue what I wanted to do with my hair! My hair is still pretty short (twa) so there's not much I can do with it.  Or, is the problem me...am I not creative enough to come up with some styles for my twa besides a wash-n-go or defined curls?? Come on ladies! I know I'm not the only one who goes through or have gone through this, am I? Lol. Take a look at these pics and tell me what you think. Or if you have some ideas on styles I can try, let me know :-)

Modified Twist Out

First Journey: Newly Natural

Have you ever felt frustrated with trying to fit in with your friends?  Tired of being broke because you are trying to keep up with the latest trends?  I know exactly how you feel! I reached a point in my life when I decided I no longer wanted to look like every other woman walking around.  All of my life people assumed I was a "stuck up" girl because I am light skinned and I had long hair and my eyes are hazel.  Too add to that, I was really quiet and didn't really speak much to anyone I didn't know.  Inside, I was screaming to be that outgoing popular girl that every high school seemed to have.  But, that image I held onto for years never materialized for me.  I am now 30 years old and still the same quiet person and I'm okay with that.  It took several years for me to accept that I am who I am.  Please believe that I still have days where I don't feel so pretty; even as a grown woman.  The difference is I don't dwell on the fact that I'm not popular and can't wear the latest trends everyday.  I have other things going on in my life that far outweight popularity and fashionable clothing; I am now married and have 3 beautiful children.  One major thing I changed in my life, which was very recent, was my views on how a woman should look.  Society says a woman should be tall, thin, have long flowing hair and wear expensive clothing.  Well, I say a woman should look and be comfortable in whatever skin she was born in! lol. For me, that means average height, slender, and have Natural kinky, curly short hair (I'm a new natural).  Since I have transitioned to natural hair, I have learned more and more about myself.  For example, I am a lot more confident than I thought myself to be.  You have to have plenty of confidence to be natural ladies!  I do understand this journey doesn't end after becoming natural. I have a ways to go in becoming who God made me to be BUT I now realize that I am PURPOSED. DESTINED (for greatness) & NATURALLY ME!! 

Side Note: I do not feel a woman has to become natural to find her purpose in life.  I am just stating my OWN views/opinions and personal experiences.

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Me 2009 (2nd pic)                Me Now (1st pic)