Weekend Review

So this weekend I got out a bit more, well alot more than I normally do. My weekends are normally pretty uneventful. I stay home, lay around and watch tv mostly. But this weekend I did alot which included sewing, taking a class, hanging out with old high school friends, meeting new people, and doing my mom's hair. So here goes:

1.) I have alot of fabric, zippers, and other notions so I made some cosmetics bags. Been holding onto my sewing inventory for a while and have decided that I need to just sew and see what I come  up with. I can't sew a garment from scratch but I can do alterations and bags. I really want to buy more fabric but it won't make sense because I'm already hoarding.

3 different sizes

2.) I went to a high school alumni get together. It was a wine and cheese party. I wish I had more pics but I had a great time and met a few new people.

 

Top and bottom: thrifted

Hair was a braid out.

3.) Did my Mom's hair. Wash, deep condition, twist, and cornrow.

4.) Attended a tincture making class at Third Root Community Health Center in Brooklyn. This class was an intro to a more extensive Herbal Education Program. It was 2 hours long but I was 1 hour late and missed the salve making portion. I made a nettle tincture by putting some dried nettle in my container then pouring enough vodka to cover the herbs. It is to be left for 2 to 3 weeks and shaken everyday. I learned that there are different to ways to make tinctures but for some reason I thought there was only one way. Different herbalists have their own methods.

Recycled my ORS container

This was made on 1/28/2012. It's super green, stains, and tastes nasty.

And that was my weekend. Atleast I can account for it and say that I actually did something productive. Let's see what next weekend has in store.

I've got the itch...

to bigchop. I'm just really over it now. I'm at my goal and am ready to move on but I think I'll miss the length though. My natural hair is almost APL. Maybe I'll just cut a few inches, there are some thin ends in some areas. Now to decide whether I'll do that myself or go to my hairdresser. Sigh... what to do, what to do.

My run in with Iron Deficiency

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Over the last 4 weeks I've been through a slightly scarey scenario. I had been feeling extremely lethargic, my energy level was slim to none.. I'd sleep at all hours of the day and when I went out I'd have no energy to do anything. I'd even sleep on the train and it's really not something I do but I was just so blasted tired and couldn't figure out why no matter how I tried. I pulled out every trick in the book that I had which even inspired to do my post about green smoothies, I even had little to no appetite but would force myself to eat. The surprising thing is that it got so bad I'd fall asleep like really be out soon as I was done eating. That was weird because you're not supposed to feel like that after eating; I understand alittle itis but that? I'd also get dizzy and slight fainting spells because my energy was so low. No matter what I ate I would fall asleep almost immediately and looking back on it I think my body was telling me that what I ate wasn't what I needed.

So one night I got this craving for a Wendy's burger(kinda like what I'm having now). I got it, I ate it and almost immediately felt better, so much so that I ate everything in the package. I mean everything. I wondered why I was feeling better and realised that it had to be the beef. Well whuddoyaknow? My ass was iron deficient all along. I never thought about it the whole month I was damn near dying!!(ok that was dramatic). If you're wondering why I didn't go to the doctor it's because I have no health insurance.

Since learning that fact about myself I've been eating medium rear burgers and enjoying it, as well as taking iron tablets. I learned from a friend that iron is best absorbed when taken with vitamin C so I drink with juice instead of water and have really noticed a difference in absorption. I'm also thinking of getting Ferroglobin or Ferrol Compound; they are liquid iron supplements mostly found in the UK and Caribbean. If anybody knows of any New York stores or U.S. websites to buy them it would be really appreciated.

FERROGLOBIN

FERROL COMPOUND

Results of my findings:
More energy
No dizzy/fainting spells
Super duper increased appetite
I'm almost back to normal 


So with that being said, I learned the importance of nutrition in a hard way and hope that you all don't go through that. We all know if your body is deficient of nutrients nothing will go to the hair because our organs are more important than our hair thus leaving room for hair loss to occur. We women also have that neat thing about us called the menstrual cycle that throws a monkey wrench in our iron levels. : /  I'm sure that taking iron especially during that period would help but it's easier said than done because we forget. I do however, hope my experience inspires you to improve on that as well as getting adequate amounts of other nutrients in your bodies. It's a work in progress for me.

CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So as I said yesterday afternoon I had wash day. I decided to blow dry and flat iron for my length check and presentation on Wednesday cuz my hair just has to look fly. I was tired. I should have went to bed and continued later but noooooooo. I have so much more to do with my presentation I decided to get it over with tonight. And guess what? I FORGOT TO USE HEAT PROTECTANT and I passed that blasted flatiron like 3 times. I wondered what that burnt smell was : (. The texture of the flatironed new growth was even different(sniff sniff). I'm afraid to face my next wash day. How could I forget? I NEVER forget. Prays to hair gods so they spare me of heat damage. This may not seem like a big deal to some but I'm devastated. Ladies please don't do your hair when you're tired. It could have been worse right? Yeah, let's just say that even though it doesn't make me feel better. Now to go curl up in the fetal position and cry myself to sleep imagining what my next wash day will be like.

RANT OVER.

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Ok so I think I'm over it

I think I'm over transitioning. The two textures are starting to bug me. I'm doing a deep condition and it's bugging me just thinking of the blow dry process. I need to flatiron too because I need to do a length check. My last one was July 2011. Think I'm gonna get a trim, maybe layers. I need to get a wig and leave my hair alone. I'm glad I was able to accomplish my length goal though. More on this wash session and length check later.

Peace out!!!

"Curly Hair Dos and Donts" from...

Those Girls Are Wild. I wasn't going to do a new post till tomorrow but I was inspired. These lovely, hilarious girls along with Antoinette and Shanti of A Curl's Best Friend have addressed the pet peeves of curly girls so brilliantly. I like many others have experienced the same things. I love their channel. They are FUNNY AS HELL.




I dance to drums. I love them. They make me move. It's an adrenaline rush. I like me some shea butter from time to time, and petroleum jelly for those dry winter days. Shea butter mixed with olive oil is good for stretch marks when used consistently. I like to steep my own hair oils; hey I like the challenge. I like herbal rinses and ankara fabric. I like fried chicken, baby back ribs, wheat grass, soy chunks, and gari. Love me some KFC and Checkers. I love my natural, kinky textured, 4ab hair.

APRIL 22ND, 2009.
Battle with humidity on a rainy day. Notice the lopsidedness.
I believe I was about shoulder length. I think.

I hate shrinkage and when people mention relaxers 5 seconds after I say that I'm transitioning back to natural. "Oh your hair is so long you should relax. I don't know why you would cut all that hair off" What's it to ya!? IT.WILL.GROW.BACK. I have a particular friend who always says this and always acts brand new like she doesn't know I'm transitioning. And don't pet me. I am not a dog and you're messing up my perfect fro!!!! And you didn't ask. : / (this was when I was natural a couple years ago) The only persons who get to put their hands in my hair are those who have my permission.



Other interesting experiences:
1.) Early in my big chop my friend's man told me that I cut off all of my beauty. I was so shocked I didn't know how to respond. It was the first hit I took with my hair being newly natural.(click here) I get that he was used to seeing me with longer hair and that he himself was shocked but dude did you just really call me ugly? In his defense he has been known to say extra dumb things that make you go hmmmmm every once in a while. The urge to beat him down is rearing it's ugly head.


2.) I had just finished a wash and deep condition on my then shoulder length hair. I visited a friend and met up with another who I had not seen in the while. I wasn't happy with how my hair turned out that day but I was working with it. So we were talking about hair and friend number two decides to rake her hand through the front of my head all in my scalp. She got the LOOK OF DEATH. I didn't even mean to, it was a reflex. (well maybe I did subconsciously) She jumped back and apologized so quick. LOL. Next time don't be raking yo hand through my hair. I don't know where your hand was!!! Groping my scalp without my permission is a violation of my personal space. It's like you just groped my ass.


3.) Former employer nearly jumped out of her skin when I arrived at work with my fro instead of my usual braid extensions. LOL.


Tis' all. "Curly girls unite!!!" Off to stalk A Curls Best Friend.

Green Smoothies

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What is a green smoothie?

A blended drink made of juice or water, and varying green vegetables and/or fruits.

Why drink it?
To get nutrients in raw form, a way pool different fruits and vegetables in one place. They can be a great alternative to salads, for people on the go, and can be made sweet or savory to taste.


I've tried Green smoothies on and off over the years. At first I was terrible at it; my ingredients were off. I think the issue was that I was trying to pack too many ingredients in thinking I would get the most nutrients that way. While that may be true I was ending up with a thick, slushy, weird tasting mess and got no nutrients because I couldn't stand the taste thus wasting perfectly good vegetables. The term 'less is more' proved itself. I had to learn simpler, tastier recipes.

I always have good results when I drink them consistently. I notice after a little over a week of drinking one green smoothie a day my skin starts to glow. But like usual I eventually fall off. I decide to stop for a bit for some stupid reason eventually going back to how I was with my skin getting dull again(I have a problem : / ).   I never checked to see if there was any effect on my hair growth but it doesn't matter to me as I drink them for overall health. I've also read on hair forums about green smoothies concerning hair growth and many reported wonderful hair, skin, and overall health results.

Other things I've noticed are keener sense of smell(eg. with meat), decreased sugar cravings, and boundless energy. Around last September/October I was on green smoothies for about a month and I was bouncing off the walls. That was actually my longest green smoothie stint. I had so much energy I couldn't sleep. I'd want to throw on my sneakers and go running around the block just to burn some energy but couldn't because it was late at night and I'd probably get snatched up and end up on a milk carton. So I took up some free dance classes with Shape Up NYC (if you're not using their resources you need to get on it). When I got midnight snack cravings I'd also make a green smoothie instead of getting a sandwich, ice cream and/or cornbread (hanging head in shame), frying an egg, or any other atrocity I shouldn't be eating at that time of night. Looking back, late night green smoothies didn't help my insomnia. Smh.

This is a smoothie I made today.

Kiwi, ginger, aloe, spinach.

Mix mentioned above, White Rose honey, Spectrum apple cider vinegar

 

Approximately 24oz. This batch was yummy.

My recipe

12oz. water

1 handful spinach

half kiwi

1 piece aloe

small piece of ginger

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon MSM

Amount of honey needed for desirable taste.

My findings/sugestions:

-Don't use regular spinach you need BABY spinach. I made the terrible mistake of making a smoothie with that stuff and nearly died.#throwsupinmouth# Slimy mess.

-Don't use tomatoes. Extremely acidic. Might work out in savory green smoothies. Look here.

I sometimes add apple, blue berries, straw berries, banana, chlorophyll, chlorella, celery, etc. Just about anything I have on hand that I think will taste good. My base juice is lemon, water, and honey. I used to use apple juice but wanted to try something more basic and unprocessed. Occasionally I'll go back to apple juice and other juices for a different taste.

So since I've been feeling sluggish lately I'm putting myself on a challenge to drink at least one green smoothie a day. If I drink more, like the entire contents in the above batch then great but this is my minimum goal. I also want to try my best to eventually replace my artificial juices with green smoothies and water.

When I'm really low on time or feeling lazy I add liquid chlorophyll to my juice so I'm at least getting some liquid greens in there. So that can be an option for someone. You can also use powdered chlorella, spiralina, or any other kind of powdered greens, or drink them in pill form.

What are your experiences with green smoothies?

Wash Day 1/10/2012

I did a wash and deep condition. My hair was in a blow dry and flat iron style for about three weeks then the fourth week I put it in plaits and moisturized and sealed everyday for the week with one co-wash. I wore a wig for a couple days then a wrap. I changed up my wash regimen a little because I was feeling lazy/tired/indifferent : /. I've had a lot going on lately.

1) sectioned my hair into the ponytails.
2) applied LeKair Cholestorol Plus on dry hair and left it in overnight

3) rinsed and washed hair with Neutrogena Triple Moisture Cream Lather Shampoo(I ran out of castile soap)

4) applied the Suave Professionals Humectant Conditioner and left it in for about 10 minutes, no shower cap(I should be spanked).

5) rinsed
6) air dried to about 70 - 80%
7) blow dried each section with Fantasia IC Heat Protector.

I was going to flat iron but I think I should lay off the excessive heat for a while, it's getting to be too much stuff to do, plus big hair is sexy ; ). I forgot how much I like to wear my hair like this. It's how I use to wear my hair last Summer whenever I didn't have a weave in.



The results:
My hair was not as moisturized as when I do my normal routine, kinda had a different texture to it,  but I'll live. In hindsight I should've added some olive oil to the LeKair Cholestorol. It would've made for a better moisturizing pre-shampoo experience. I don't know how I forgot to add olive oil to it as I've always used it that way.

When I was blow drying my hair I found that there was still a bit of LeKair Cholesterol coming onto the middle of my head, that's the thickest area. I thought I got it all when I shampooed. I did skip my toothbrush scalp scrub though; it's why I added that step. I'm never able to get all of my conditioner out when washing in ponytails. I was a little peeved but I got over it because it was only one section.

THIS POST WOULD BE WORTHLESS WITHOUT PICS

After the blow dry

I should have smiled.

Cousin It

Morning about to leave for class

About to test the humidity. Let's see what it will look like by the end of the day.

End of the day

 

I'm getting old

 I guess it wasn't much reversion?

I don't know long I'll keep my hair like this. I'll just wing it and just pay attention to see when I'll need to wash and deep condition. Maintenance will consist of me keeping it in 6 plaits; 3 on each side when I'm not going out, also to create a braid out effect. If I have nowhere special to go I won't take them out and I'll just wear a head tie and hat, or cute head wrap. I'll be adding coconut or grape seed oil to the plaits about 2 or 3 times a week and finger combing. The reason for not using a water based product is to delay reversion as I would like to keep my strands elongated for my big braid outs.

Feeling Scissor Happy...

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about split ends. I'm sitting in class right now and this split end is bugging me. Every time I look to the left I see it. I wish I could carry a pair of scissors around everywhere. Well I can but I think I'd look like a mad woman pulling out scissors to trim split ends in random locations like in class or on the train. So I guess I have to wait till I get home and do a search and destroy. I'm actually due for one anyway.

My Transitioning Regimen - Wash day

Here is my long overdue wash day regimen.


I don’t really do much and sometimes I can get really lazy. It consists of the normal basic stuff like wash, protein condition, deep condition, moisturize, and seal. I wash and deep condition about every 3 weeks. Early in my hair journey I used to wash twice a week, then once a week, then twice a month, and now about every 3 weeks. These changes occurred because of lifestyle changes (school), laziness or exhaustion, and change in hair’s condition. The latter are connected because as my hair got longer it became more time consuming to care for it. Now I have a schedule that works for me, but most of all I listen to my hair.

When I’m in protective style mode I keep my hair in about 15 small braids and I either wear a wig or a wrap. Every day I moisturize with kid’s organics shea butter detangling moisturizing hair lotion, great stuff. Then I seal with oil. Wash day takes on about 10 to 12 hours of my time. This plus my low manipulation rule are mainly the reason I wash every 3 weeks.

Steps for main hair wash reggie:

1.       Section hair in about 15 pony tails

2.       Wash with unscented  castile soap.

Did a reddish semi-permanent rinse Summer 2010.

      3.    Apply Nexxus Emergencee, shower cap, leave in for 20 to 30 minutes under steam cap.


      4.        Apply Suave Professionals Humectant Conditioner for dry hair.


      5.     Overnight DC for about 6 to 8 hours.

So tempted to big chop

The difference between the two

textures is so weird.

      6.       Rinse and check scalp for conditioner build up.

      7.       If there is buildup, take my very soft tooth brush and scrub my scalp gently to remove as    much conditioner as I can.

8.       ACV rinse if needed for porosity.

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar to 64oz of water. This is what works for ME. It may not be standard for someone else so try at your own risk.

9.       Air dry to about 70% or 80%.

10.     Blow dry and flat iron, or detangle and braid back up. I finger comb when I blow dry to detangle. I use a comb only if I feel it's needed. This was acheived with a Revlon Amber Waves Professional Ionic Dryer RV672AW and FHI flatiron.

TADA!!!

Now it is imperative that I do all this in sections because the minute I let my hair loose while wet there will be problems. Plus my blow dry/flat ironing is always more organized. When I do the latter, I use Fantasia Heat Protector.

If it weren't for this method I would not have lasted this long through this transition and would have had to big chop sooner. I also finger comb 95% of the time because it lowers the chance of breakage. I also do this in small sections. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Ignore the hand

I know I'm late but hey what you gonna do? It still feels weird we're in 2012. It will take a few more days to get used to it. Anyhoo, I've been away since November due to personal issues which I've resolved and now all is right with the world and all the stars are aligned. Because of my most recent triumph I've been able to ring in the new year with a clear mind. I hope you too have been able to do the same but just being able to see another year is good enough for us all. This year is the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I plan on accomplishing or atleast starting on my goals. I've actually already started taking steps as I have alot of ideas floating around in this head of mine. Once again, I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope that we can see our goals come to a reality in this new year.