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~