What the ______ is this hair typing business!?

Well, hey guys! I’ve finally returned! I’m done with undergrad and now I can focus on what matters to me! ^.~

So, before I jump into my new product reviews, I wanted to talk about my hair type and maybe help you guys figure out yours. Honestly, when I first started using products, I wished someone did this as thoroughly and plainly as I am attempting to do now.

I know most of us go by that 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c type crap. BUT! There are better ways to figure out your hair type. To figure out if a product will work for you, you should know your hair porosity, density, and strand thickness.

My hair types: 

4a in the middle, 3c in the back, 4b in the front (on the sides)! Crazy mix… But I love my hair!

Now on to the more informative typing stuff!

Normal to low porosity

I’m mostly normal porosity but some parts are low. If the product is right for me it usually melts right into my hair, and I don’t have to moisturize too often (maybe one or twice a week if I didn’t love using product in my hair).

Fine to Medium Coarse Strands

            When I found this out, I was UBER surprised. I have soooo much hair. All my life I’ve had thick hair that would break brushes and combs. But when I checked my strands, the majority of them are fine!!!!! I mean, these babies were so hard to see and when you think you’re pulling out 1 you’ve pulled out like 4. The rest are medium coarse though! I just couldn’t believe my hair wasn’t coarse yet it was so thick. It just goes to show how thickness/density has nothing to do with strand thickness!

Density

            I have so much hair. It’s very thick! THICK! Again this is just crazy. I must have like millions of fine strands on my head that just mate and create medium coarse strands (this a joke, I don’t think this could happen… lmao)!

Well with that said, let’s boogie down!

Porosity

In plain language, it's just how open your hair cuticle is.

If you have low porosity, your cuticle is pretty sealed and it takes a while for product to penetrate the hair shaft and for moisture to leave the hair shaft.

If you have normal porosity, your cuticle is more open than low but more closed than high. Normal porosity is balanced and absorbs product at a normal rate (whatever a normal rate is, be it 5 mins or 15 mins, or whatever the product recommends).

If you have high porosity, your hair strand is very open and absorbs product like it’s nobody’s business!!! Some people think this is bad because just as much moisture comes out as product goes in. But meh, I say it’s nothing to lose sleep over unless it’s from chemical or heat damage… then we have problems!!!

NEXT!

Density

Well we all know this! How much hair do you have on your head child!? Lol  

If you have high density you have a thick head full of hair.

If you have low density, your hair isn’t as thick.

FINALLY!

Strand Thickness

Three types: Fine, Medium Coarse, and Coarse

Fine

Very thin, smaller than thread

Medium Coarse

Bigger than fine but smaller than coarse, almost the same size as a piece of thread (I believe). 

Coarse

Thick! Closer to the size of a piece of thread. It might feel wiry.

So, why does all this matter!? 

Well, let’s say you want to use something for a twist out. Let’s say your hair has normal porosity, fine to medium coarse strands, and high density (yea it’s my hair profile lmao). My hair loves thick and buttery creams for twists outs! If it’s too heavy my hair gets pissed the fuck off with me and decides to look and feel busted! 

But maybe your hair is different. Ah! Eureka! 

Maybe it has high porosity with coarse strands, and high density (my mom’s hair profile lmao). You hair might love the same twist out cream I gave a bad review. ^.~

Usually if something is too heavy and greasy, I give it to my mama and her hair loves it! So it’s important to know this before your PJism (product junkie syndrome is what I like to call it) has you wasting money on products that your hair doesn’t like!

So I hoped this helped! Check out the sources for detailed info on how to find your hair density, strand thickness, and porosity!

Peace and love!!

Sources

The ones with stars were the most informative to me! Lol

*http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/curlchemist-porosity-and-curly-hair

*http://livecurlylivefree.blogspot.com/2009/01/hair-porosity.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curly-hair-care-methods/quick-easy-hair-porosity-density-tests

http://www.hairfinder.com/hairquestions/hairporosity.htm

*http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/08/how-to-find-your-hair-porosity-and.html

*http://blackgirllonghair.com/2011/10/how-to-deal-with-high-porosity-hair/

*http://blackgirllonghair.com/2011/11/not-every-natural-is-coarse-of-course/2/

~.~ I'm so Sorry! ~.~

Sorry I haven't been around! 

It's my last semester of undergrad and I'm just swampped with work. 

But on the bright side:

• I'll be graduating in approximately 3 weeks!! W0000000t!
• I have a shit load of reviews for products!!
• I learned some new techniques!
• Also, I've got interesting stories to tell about my experiences with natural hair. ^.~* lol

So, I'll see you guys in a few weeks! ^.~

I don't own this image! But isn't it awesome! If it's yours and you don't want me to use it, let me know and I'll take it down!!! ^.~

~.^ Peace out! ^.~

Olive Oil and Honey Deep Conditioner Hair Treatment

Hello peoples!

I've been hearing alot about this olive oil and honey treatment. So I decided to try it. Here's what I used, my results, and my thoughts.

What I Used

• Trader Joe's Raw Orangic Honey
• Trader Joe's EVOO
• Trader Joe's Nourish Spa Conditioner
• Shea Moisture's Moisture Retention Shampoo
• Measuring Cup
• Shower Cap and Turbie Twist

The Process

• I only used 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup honey (which is a lot, I still have some left over).
• First I added olive oil to a measuring cup.
• Then I added the honey and heated it up in the microwave in 10-15 sec increments.
• Then I stirred it and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
• Before applying the mixture I shampooed my hair with Shea Moisture's Moisture Retention Shampoo.
• Using the measuring cup, I poured the mixture on the back of my hair and used my fingers to dab some of it in the front. 
• Then I put on a shower cap on and my turbie twist 
• I let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Lastly, I co-washed with Trader Joe's Nourish Spa Condish

The Results and My Thoughts

• I didn't like it! ~.~
• The way people were raving over it... I expected extraordinary results. But I did not notice any real difference in moisture or shine.
• Also, I didn't know whether I should use it on dry hair or wet hair ... I felt sorta unclear about the whole process so I did sorta wing it...! >.<

 I plan on trying it again... with honey that isn't organic...and a spray bottle... lol

 

BUT SO FAR!

I'm not sold on this DC treatment!

~.~  Peace Out! ^.~

My References

http://youtu.be/ymM_GCuK_FY

http://youtu.be/MeJTKHXa9xE

http://youtu.be/db2ERXLz6fk

http://youtu.be/k9lePTqRJTI

http://youtu.be/8VgoBwb3LjM

http://questfortheperfectcurl.com/2009/12/29/psh-told-you-the-quest-wasnt-over-honey-and-olive-oil-conditioning-treatment/

"We Have A Choice Now..."

Hey guys

I was talking to my ace boon coon last night and she made an extremely ignorant comment about natural hair. I don't think she understood what she was implying... But this is basically what she said:

Back in the day, black people wore Afros and plaits because they didn't really have any other choice... that's what the slave masters wanted them to look like. But today we have choices. We can choose to perm it, braid it up, or weave it up. I feel when people wear Afros and stuff they're going back to how white people wanted them to look: dirty, and unkempt. 

Now, mind you, the person who made this statement has been natural for about a year. However, she chooses to wear wigs and weaves. Now, I don't care what she does with her head... but I have taken offense to what she said.

I'm one of the few people who wear picked out afros. I do this for four reasons:

• Sometimes it's easier to style a fro than twist outs and curls.
• Sometimes I like the strange looks and comments I get. 
• I like what the Afro stands for and when I am outnumbered I like to flaunt it... lol
• Sometimes I like to shake things up and let people know I don't care how you want me to look, but this is how I choose to look.

So for her to say this implies two things:

• Black natural hair is inherently undesirable to others  as well to ourselves.
• We only wear natural hair because we were in bondage; growing and wearing our natural hair itself is a form of bondage. In other words, it is something that we don't wish to be tethered to just like slaves forcibly tied to their slave master. 

Something natural is unadulterated, virgin, or simply how it should be. To me, my natural kinky, nappy, and thick hair is not undesirable or something that whites devised to "keep us down." Frankly speaking, how can someone use what is yours against you. Sadly, competing ideologies have caused black women to be self-hating, and ashamed of their natural textured hair. I believe the person who made this statement is a victim of this as well... And I'm deeply saddened by this...

I'm proud of my textured hair, my heritage, and my roots as an African American female. My natural hair isn't dirty nor unkempt. It is negative ideology that have produced and perpetuated this stereotype. And I think we (as black women) should work to disprove this stereotype and re-educate our family, friends, and other loved ones about natural hair and its positive connotations.

I felt I should share this with everyone. It is things like this that keep the black community apart. It is things like this that essentially keeps us down.

Stop the hatred!

Stop the self-hatred! 

     Love yourself! <3

<3 Love your fellow man!

Peace Out! I'll be back! ~.~

My Hair Care Routine

Hey guys! I'm back! 

Well everyone seems to be talking about their routines and the treatments they use ect. Well I thought I should share mine!

Well here's my routine!

• I tend to wet my hair every 1-3 days. So usually when I wake up in the morning I co-wash with two different conditioners
• Shea Mositure Curl and Style Milk 
• Then Shea Moisture Yucca and Boabab Volumizing Conditioner

• After co-washing I rake some Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie through my hair.
• After I work that in completely I either
• Comb it out or
• Spray Shea Moisture's Shine and Hold Mist and then comb it out or
• Spray Shea Moisture's Shine and Hold Mist and then let it air dry
• Lastly, I let the hair air dry and either pull it back with a scarf, a large hair tie, or leave it out without tying it back.
• On the weekends I wet DC with Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol, Doo Gro Mega Growth Oil or a mixture of Hollywood Beauty Carrot Oil and Castor Oil, and off brand Olive Oil. Sometimes I also add Organic Coconut Oil to the mixture as well. 
• I let the Olive Cholesterol sit in my head for a day or half a day with a shower cap and a turbie twist towel on my head.
• Usually when I wash out the DC I check how much my hair has grown.
• As of last week I have started doing different twist outs to see how each sets with the smoothie. I've found that fat twists are just as good if not better than the smaller twists.

I've been wanting to try Trader Joe's Nourish Spa Conditioner, Shea Moisture's original Leave In Conditioner, EVOO and Honey Treatment, Aloe Vera, and Jamaican Black Castor Oil. 
Since I start school soon, I hope to get these along with a new fall wardrobe. lol

When my hair gets longer I plan on doing twist outs and braid outs more often. Until then this is my usual low maintenance routine. I think it works quite well (especially for TWAs) and doesn't take much time. The only complaint I have are the small pieces of relaxed hair that tend to stick up... Sometimes it's hard to blend them in. I hope I can get my hair trimmed soon because this is a very annoying problem!

What's your routine!?

Lol that's my TWA!

Light Skin vs Dark Skin Dichotomy

Hey guys!

I have a question tied to an observation.

I noticed there are quite a few models of natural hair that are lighter skinned when I was playing around on my tumblr page.

Furthermore, I noticed more people take to the lighter skinned models than the darker skinned ones. I feel this is because on dark skinned women natural hair is considered more acceptable when it is curly rather than ethnically textured. For example (*cough* this could also be due to popularity, or lack of clothing *cough*):

This was liked 15 times

Versus this image which was liked 101 times

What happened to dark skinned sisters modelling afros!? 

For me the problem is not the skin color but how others perceive black natural hair differently on women of a lighter skin tone. To me, men are more accepting of natural hair on a light skinned chick since light skin is still associated with attractiveness and is generally more coveted. But, to me natural hair is beautiful on women of all skin tones! Why should light skin chicks get a thumbs up while dark skinned chicks get a thumbs down for being too ethnic.

Does it matter or am I being paranoid?

I preach tolerance and equality but I'm the type of person who notices dichotomies, inequality, and glaring differences... I guess it's due to my background as a Psychology and English dual major. But this is something that has caught my eye. Much love to all my women out there doing what they're doing! 

~.^ I'll be back! Much love! ^.~

Natural Hair Lingo

So, I'm like a re-admitt to the natural hair movement. So when I look around hair care boards and youtube channels I can't help but wonder what each term means.

So for those of you out there who aren't in the know like me, here's a small (and incomplete) list of some of the terms I've learned.

EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I know... I know... Lol)
BC- Big Chop or cutting off the relax ends from your natural hair
DC- Deep Condition
DDC- Dry Deep Condition (putting deep conditioner on your dry hair)
Plooping/Plunking- Basically drying your hair with a towel like this. (Weird right?)
Pre-poo- Deep condition your hair first and then shampooing it.
Co-wash- washing your hair with conditioner minus the shampoo
Twist out/ Braid Out/Bantu Knot Out/...Out- well this is like it sounds, two strand twisting hair or braiding your hair and then taking it out for a crinkled look with less shrinkage
condish- conditioner
poo- shampoo
TWA - Tweeny Weeny Afro or Mini 'Fro
No-Poo- No shampoo
Transitioning- when you stop relaxing your hair and begin growing out your natural hair. Sooner or later you will most likely do a big chop.
ACV- Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Hair Type - well this is some deeeeeep stuff here so I suggest you go here. It didn't help me and it doesn't make sense to me... so I do not use this system religiously... lol
BSL- bra strap length hair
APL- arm pit length hair
finger comb- using fingers to comb through hair to detangle or apply product.
PJ- product junkie
slip- Well... I wasn't too sure about this one but I assume it is the amount of detangling and manageability a conditioning product adds to your hair once applied.
Sealing- using oils to seal in the moisture from leave in conditioners, hair lotions, or moisturizers.

These are the most common terms I have encountered during my web surfing. I hope this was as enlightening for me as well as you!

Here's are a few reference pages I've used! Check them out for more info!
http://naturallymemedia.com/natural-hair-glossary/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9P-JVvtqFU
http://www.curlynikkiforums.com/general/179-natural-hair-dictionary-detangling-terms.html

~.^ I shall return! ^.~