BabyGirlHair.com

Ruth Beauty Shop--My Wig is Here!

2012-02-14T17:23:00.003-06:00

My wig is here. I'm very impressed with the quality of the hair. It came in a lovely bag along with a nice comb and wig clip. Very classy. I can't wait to cut the lace on this bad boy to really show you guys what it looks like.

The customer service was wonderful. The wig that I ordered, they didn't have in stock so I received two phone calls letting me know what options I had. I chose a shorter wig in 1B.

They shipped the wig out so fast after that. I wasn't seriously expecting it until later this week.

So far so good ladies. The customer service and quality so far, I'm really impressed with. Let's see how the wig looks when I apply it and when how long it holds up.

My First Lace Wig?

2012-02-08T09:22:00.002-06:00

Ruth's Beauty Shop

Just ordered this today from the Candy Girls Collection. It will be my first ever Lacefront wig, although once I had a beater to play around with. I liked it a lot and stated that whenever I got the chance, I would purchase one.

I put my hubby on alert for the wig that I really wanted which is only $185. With me not working and him taking care of all the responsibilities, it really shouldn't be a priority but we'll see. I'm really tired of the half wigs although wearing them has kept my hair very protected.

I'll post pictures very soon.

I'm Sick! What To Do To My Hair?

2012-01-24T16:41:00.002-06:00

Despite the lupus, which has almost taken over every conversation that I have on a daily basis, I am trying to take care of my hair again.

I've been cowashing with Suave mixed with some African's Best Hair Oil. Since most of my days are spent in bed, I wear a plastic cap, hair scarf, and a wool hat. I actually sleep this way, trying to relieve my very dry scalp.

So far, its paid off! The last time I flatironed my hair, I noticed a big difference in the moisture content in my hair. Where before my hair would be really frizzy at the ends, it's no longer doing that. My hair looks healthy and where Lupus had began to thin my hair on the right side, it's coming in very nicely.

For those women out there that work full time jobs and don't have time to fuss with their hair, or find themselves in a situation like me who are too ill to take care of your hair, I recommend a few suggestions.

1. Braids are your friend. Provided that you're not suffering from alopecia, I would highly recommend the use of wigs and half wigs to achieve a nice style. Senssational and Outre make wonderful half wigs. I just don't recommend that you wear them to sleep.

Braid your hair flatly underneath your half wig. Then add a stocking cap with just a small amount of leave out. Make sure that you condition and do a protein treatment (relaxed or natural) to the leave out portion of your hair. Since it is out, it will endure the most stress.

Then apply your half wig to your hair and there you go. Use Edge Control or your favorite pomade to make your hair blend. Use heating tools to a minimum.

2. Full wigs/Lacefronts can accomplish the same. Use the same steps above but since you're not leaving any hair out, make sure that you are wearing a stocking cap with none of your hair exposed.

3. Braids can also be a great low maintenance style as well. The only drawbacks is that they tend to get fuzzy after a little while and need to be reapplied. This is also more costly.

I'm Ashamed

2011-12-27T10:13:00.001-06:00

Ashamed because this blog means the world to me.

I started this blog almost four years ago because there wasn't enough information about weaves and black hair care at that time. SInce I was frustrated, I decided to start my own. It's grown so much.

I wanted to keep my information as accurate and unbiased as possible.

But life has a funny way of sometimes redirecting your attention away from certain things. Since my health has deteriorated, I haven't had the time or energy to even really care about my hair. I'm grateful to have hair on the top of my head because at one point during my illness, I was starting to lose hair on the right side due to my Lupus.

Nowadays my hair stays hidden under half wigs as I battle for my life against this horrible disease. I pray that you guys are doing well.

Hopefully I will be in remission so I can get back to my first love....hair.

Coming soon, I will be getting my tree braids and sew ins. I was unable to get those due to a complication of my disease causing serious nerve damage on my head. Simply pulling one hair on the left side of my head would cause me to scream.

Scary stuff I know.

I'll keep in touch.

Hair Myth: Cutting Your Ends Make Your Hair Grow Faster

2011-10-20T05:23:00.004-05:00

Myth: Cutting your ends will make your hair grow faster.

This is entirely a myth. How can cutting the ends of your hair make your scalp tell your hair follicles to grow?

Trimming your ends will just give you.....healthy shorter hair. Not that its a bad thing, but it won't contribute to growth.

Example.

Girl A grows an inch. Goes to the stylist, he cuts off half an inch. Girl A is disappointed but is happy her hair has the "blunt" look and looks healthier. She comes back some time later and grows another half inch. Stylist takes off the same half inch. Girl A is disappointed but is wondering why her hair isn't gaining any length.

Some stylists are cutting too much than they should be. Also if you need your ends trimmed every time you go to the salon, you need a new regimen because your old one is not working honey. Keeping your ends off your shoulders, bunning, keeping your ends tucked away are styles that are going to work for you.

Birthdays and Hair Growth

2011-09-17T23:15:00.000-05:00

Had another birthday, Lupus is still kicking my ass, geez...so much has changed in my life, you wouldn't believe.

On the hair tip, I'm maintaining slightly above APL. I've been very ill so keeping my hair in braids REALLY REALLY WORKS for me. I cowash A LOT in the shower. I've been promising to keep my braids moisturized to see a difference when I blow dry and flat iron my hair.

It seems to be working well, as long as I cowash on a regular basis.
As the weather turns cooler, I will turn to my half wigs and try to surprise myself on Valentine's day.
It will be nice to see how much growth I've gotten during this time. Lupus is attacking lots of things in my body but it hasn't messed with my hair.

A lot of women and men with Lupus lose handfuls of hair during a flare and I feel horrible for them.

I'll try to keep you guys posted!

Product Review Kiehls Deodorant--Best Deodorant Ever

2011-08-04T08:02:00.003-05:00

Sorry this isn't a hair product but hell it's the summer time.

Summertime means tank tops, hot sun, and sweat.

Deodorant is a very important part of one's hygiene and during the summer months, it can be incredibly difficult to find something that works with your body chemistry.

I'm one that have to switch using different deodorants often because my body gets used to it. I'm not sure why that happens but I know I'm not alone in this.

So a friend of mine suggested Kiehls.

It was $14 at Saks Fifth Ave....incredibly expensive but she said it was worth the price.

So far....so good. I'm impressed with the fact that I stayed odor free and dry for the past seventeen hours without reapplication. Even some clinical strength deodorants I've used was not able to accomplish this feat. I didn't even need to apply a lot like some of the brands I've used in drugstores.

I highly recommend this deodorant. Wishing you all a dry and odor free summer!

:)

How To Take Care Of Your Old Half Wigs

2011-07-07T20:05:00.002-05:00

Got an old, ratty tatty half wig? Tired of throwing your hard earned money in the garbage? Times are hard in this economy and I discovered a way to get at least a few more weeks wear out of your synthetic half wigs. This method will work on Human half wigs as well.

One wash and these wigs are almost as good as new.

CHI IONIC SINGLE PASS FLAT IRON REVIEW

2011-07-07T17:58:00.003-05:00

CHI Single Pass Flat Iron

My Test subject....

Overall...I really like this flat iron. It does do the trick when it says ONE PASS....I read some online reviews about this iron and I learned that there weren't many positive reviews on the iron.

There are these red strips on the inside and a lot of people complained that the strips fell off the iron after it was dropped, making the iron completely useless.

My bestie also has this same iron, the Breast Cancer Pink Edition, and she raves about it all day long. I love the way it made my hair feel and it got my hair super straight!

I found this iron at TJ Maxx for just 69.99 although Folica doesn't sell it anymore on their website. I'd encourage anyone to purchase it if they can find it at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, or any other discount store.

7 Things About Me

2011-06-27T11:19:00.004-05:00

1. I am natural although I secretly love looking at healthy relaxed heads all day long. It makes me want to go back relaxed so bad. Who knows, I may one day.

2. I love shampoo bars to wash my hair. Afroveda (www.afroveda.com) makes some great ones. They last long and are very easy to use. I get that clarified squeaky clean feeling.

3. Mizani Moisturefuze is my favorite conditioner to use. It leaves my hair very soft. A close runner up is my ORS Replenishing Pak. You really can't go wrong with that stuff.

4. A great prepoo??? ORS Replenshing Pak, Cholesterol, Honey, Olive Oil mixed together makes my hair so soft and so moisturized.

5. I'm in love with my new CHI Ionic iron that I found at TJ Maxx for really cheap. I love my curls but straight hair is great too.

6.Half Wigs are the best protective style (In My Opininon) hands down because you can take them off whenever you want and style your hair in LITERALLY less than a minute.

7. The best advice I have for anyone trying to grow their hair/make it healthy is to
LEAVE IT ALONE.

CHI Ionic Flat Iron Review

2011-06-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

Coming soon.....
:D

My Hair--6/13/11

2011-06-14T11:02:00.001-05:00

I'm still light years from APL. I'm not worried about it tooooo much. I just wish it would come sooner than later. Not sure what I'm doing wrong but I do admit that I should deep condition more and stop slapping half wigs on it all the time and doing nothing much to it.

I decided to straighten with my Babyliss Ceramic Extreme and I got really good results and only needed about two passes with the flat iron. I deep conditioned and blow dried my hair with my Andis.

Andis Blow Dryer Review

2011-05-14T22:02:00.004-05:00

My old trusted GVP Blow Dryer gave out on me with a big BANG!

I was in the middle of a blow drying session which upset me.......So with a small amount of cash I headed off to Walmart to find a replacement.

On my off and bored days, I peruse YouTube videos, especially those with natural hair and found that quite a few people that I subscribe to had this particular blowdryer.

It was about $23 dollars and came with a fine tooth, wide tooth, and brush attachment. I actually like this blowdryer better than my old one.

On the GVP, the blow dryer had the controls on the handle so in the process of blow drying your hair and holding the handle, I constantly and mistakenly shut the blow dryer off many times, adding to more time.

This dryer was faster and does have a cool shot button on the back....awesome! I love the results that I get with this blowdryer and I recommend it.

Still Hiding My Hair!

2011-05-03T11:18:00.002-05:00

Honestly, I don't even want to see it.

Ever since the Lupus diagnosis, I've been scared of alopecia which could be a sign of Lupus flare. I blog about Lupus on my tumblr (www.supermodelrevealed.tumblr.com) for those that are interested and a few of my friends that deal with Lupus and other autoimmune disorders have lost a great amount of their hair.

So honestly, I don't want to look at my hair. I did take it down yesterday to rebraid it. The braids that I had done previously were a little too bulky for my liking so I redid them smaller. I did notice a lot of shed hair in the comb but I started to panic and thought that maybe my hair was thinning.

Who knows. I may sound a little superficial for someone that is dealing with a very serious and chronic illness.....it's just that I've worked so long and hard to get my hair this thick and long and to turn around to lose it all to Lupus.

It would be a shame.

Lupus is Kicking my.....

2011-04-06T17:51:00.003-05:00

You get the picture.

I'm so sorry about not being vigilant about this blog. I also do suicide counseling on the side as well as write scripts that I'm hoping to sell one day so that my child or at least her grandkids will be able to go to college.

After this lupus diagnosis, it's really been kicking my ASS. I'm very tired and don't have much time to do anything to it....my hair that is.

On some days, getting in the shower is a task. I can barely raise my arms above my head.

So I've been just cowashing my hair and tying it back into a big afro puff...keeping it moisturized when I can. Today I got enough energy to braid it back so that I can rock my half wigs again.

I was really impressed with the growth that I got from hiding my hair and I hope with more cowashing and deep conditioning this time that I can retain some growth.

I keep a watchful eye on my hair thinning and falling out. Alopecia comes with this terrible disease. It's what scares me.....well I won't say the most because then I would sound incredibly vain but Ive worked so hard on this journey.....

Alas....

I will keep you guys posted on my updates.

Thanks for understanding.

Bantu Knot Attempt #2

2011-03-23T13:41:00.004-05:00

I'm so sick of the afro puff.

So I decided to try my old faithful bantu knot set.

What did I come up with?

A Bantu knot afro puff.

So much for innovation.

I didn't like the way it came out and didn't feel like trying to style it so I tied it back and I like the results I guess. Oh well. Back to the drawing board. I may get box braids next.

Arjuni--The Controversy

2011-03-22T16:18:00.009-05:00

http://arjuni.com/

Owner Janice Wilson started a company aimed at empowering women and selling high end virgin hair extensions.

She offers a wide variety of textures from bone straight to kinky, retailing from $16 to $87 per ounce.

She also empowers women, rescuing them from human trafficking and prostitution by teaching them a new skill.

Her textures come in different lusters (Low; most desired, medium, high) and grades differing from 2A to 3D...and the latter being reserved for her most "loyal" customers who are apart of the Loyalty program.

In order to buy the most desired textures, you would have already spent a certain dollar amount with the company in order to rack up points.

I have not purchased any of this hair because the ordering process is just too complicated and the hair is expensive. But if you go to you tube, or Google images of the hair, you may be impressed with the quality.

Some would say that the hair is no different than the quality you could get with any other Chinese Vendor.

Okay.

I frequent a hair board that is quite popular and very knowledgeable about weaves. It is where I learned how to take care of my hair and have been there for four years.

She recently contacted the owners of the board and threatened with LEGAL action that the name of her company be censored out of all discussion. This is the same board that she used to test out her hair.

The girls on the hair board would post favorable and unfavorable views about Arjuni, the owner, and the hair in question...taking the good and the bad.

Now even RAVING reviews on this board can't even be mentioned because the owner had the name of her company censored.

Is this the proper manner in which a vendor/business owner should act? What are your thoughts?

Me With Straight Hair..... :0

2011-03-09T16:55:00.003-06:00

I got my hair straightened today and I had to clip the ends. My hair is bumped under so it looks shorter than what it really is.

But APL....I am not....

:(

Hair Loss and Lupus

2011-03-07T08:33:00.005-06:00

Not a good combination.

March 3, 2011 I recieved an official diagnosis of SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus).

As devastating as that news was, I was relieved to have some answers as to what is wrong with me. As some of you know, I've been battling illness for some time now.

But an unwelcome side effect, as they ALL are, is Alopecia or hair loss.

Hair loss may be an early sign of lupus before the disease is diagnosed. Lupus causes widespread inflammation, particularly on your face and scalp. Because of this inflamation and other factors, the hair on your scalp may gradually thin out, although few people lose clumps of hair.

Hair is likely to grow back when the lupus is treated but the signs and symptoms of lupus can flare unpredictably. Some people lose hair every time they "flare" up.

This is devastating news because I've been trying to grow my hair for some time now and I'm making great progress. I've been staying on top of my medications so hopefully I can fight this disease that there is currently not a cure for.

To learn more about lupus, visit www.couldihavelupus.gov for more information.

Thanks :)

Wonder what causes lupus? Lupus, an autoimmune disease, happens when the immune system attacks its tissues, causing inflammation, swelling, pain, and damage. Lupus symptoms vary, and early lupus symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, fever, and a lupus rash, especially after being in the sun.

Doctors diagnose lupus by symptoms and blood tests. Lupus is not contagious but has a hereditary component, so family health information is important.

Fatigue : Nearly all people with lupus have mild to extreme fatigue. Even mild cases of lupus cause an inability to engage in daily activities and exercise. Increased fatigue is a classic sign that a symptom flare is about to occur.
Joint and muscle pain: Most people with lupus have joint pain (arthritis) at some time. About 70% of people with lupus report that joint and muscle pain was their first sign of the disease. Joints may be red and warm, and may swell. Morning stiffness may also be felt. Lupus arthritis often occurs on both sides of the body at the same time, particularly in the wrists, small joints of the hands, elbows, knees, and ankles.
Skin problems: Most people with lupus develop skin rashes. These rashes are often an important clue to the diagnosis. In addition to the butterfly rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose, other common skin symptoms include skin sores or flaky red spots on the arms, hands, face, neck, or back; mouth or lip sores; and a scaly, red or purple raised rash on the face, neck, scalp, ears, arms, and chest.
Sensitivity to light: Exposure to ultraviolet light (such as sunlight or tanning parlors) typically worsens the skin rash and can trigger lupus flares. Sensitivity to light affects many of those with lupus, with fair-skinned people with lupus tending to be more sensitive.
Nervous system symptoms: The majority of people with lupus develop nervous system problems, most commonly headaches, depression, or anxiety. Memory loss is less common.
Heart problems: People with lupus may develop inflammation of the heart sac (pericarditis), which may cause severe, sudden pain in the center of the left side of the chest that may spread to the neck, back, shoulders, or arms.
Mental health problems: People with lupus may develop problems such as anxiety and depression. Such problems can be caused by lupus, the medications used to treat it, or the stress of coping with chronic illness.
Fever: Most people with lupus will sometimes have a low-grade fever related to the disease. Fever is sometimes a first sign of the disease.
Changes in weight: Many people with lupus lose weight when their disease is active (flaring).
Hair loss : People with lupus may experience periods of hair loss, either in patches or spread evenly over the head. This hair loss is usually not permanent.
Swollen glands : Many people with lupus eventually develop swollen lymph glands during a flare.
Raynaud's phenomenon: Some people with lupus have this condition. It affects the small vessels that supply blood to the skin and the soft tissues under the skin of the fingers and toes, causing them to turn white and/or blue or red. The skin affected will feel numb, tingly, and cold to the touch.
Inflammation of blood vessels in the skin (cutaneous vasculitis): Inflammation or bleeding from the blood vessels can lead to small or large blue spots or small reddish spots on the skin or nail beds.
Swelling of the hands and feet: Some people with lupus have kidney problems, which can prevent extra fluids from being removed from the body tissues. As fluid collects, the hands and feet may swell.
Anemia : Anemia is a decrease in the amount of the oxygen-carrying substance (hemoglobin) found in red blood cells. Many people with an ongoing disease such as lupus develop anemia because they don't have enough red blood cells.

March 2011 Progress of Puff

2011-03-03T08:47:00.002-06:00

Should have picked it out more here....but whatevs....

Excuse the early morning sick face....

Well there you are people......my puff.

I have been worried because I've lost a lot of weight recently due to illness that my hair progress would be affected. Not sure if it has affected the growth rate but I did stretch this morning and CONGRATULATIONS TO ME...

MY HAIR REACHES UNDER THE ARMPIT!

I'm not going to call it APL yet because one side is longer than the other and I need to see the back of my hair but yes.......I'm just about there!

I've been....

Cowashing my hair 1X a week
Braiding my hair up and wearing half wigs for 4-5 weeks at a time
Moisturizing with Cantu Shea butter

That's pretty much it. I did experience some slight breakage in the front where the front comb goes in my bang area....but overall I'm pretty happy with the progress.

What will a July update bring? Hopefully an inch past APL will be fine with me!

:)

My Hair is REAL!!!

2011-03-02T16:26:00.000-06:00

This video is hilarious!

She Got On My Bus....

2011-02-26T07:39:00.002-06:00

and I was mesmerized.

Yes she was gorgeous but what stood out the most was her hair.

She had long 1b straight as a pin locks that flowed to the middle of her back. I had to tear my eyes away from her for fear that she would think I was daft.

I tried to steal looks at her straight as a pin and flowy hair but to no avail. The mirror on the bus wouldn't give me a good angle without looking like a stalker.

I tried to forget about it as I ran my fingers through my kinky curls. For brief moments, I imagined my hair was magically relaxed...sure it wouldn't have been as long.....at least to my arm pits but with the help of my Halley's Curls Salon Relaxed, I'm sure I could fool millions.

The DING of the STOP REQUEST CORD halted my daydream as the caramel beauty stepped off my bus. My mouth dropped open as I got a better view of the back of her hair as it moved in the wind as the door opened.

I watched her for a few moments before the light turned green.

Later that evening at the grocery store, I walked past the hair products section. Lo and behold a box of ORS Relaxer was staring at me....taunting me.

Within twenty minutes, you can have straight as a pin hair too. Mom look! No shrinkage! Single strand knots, melted away in minutes....

I tripped over someone's kid running out of the aisle and out of the store.

Could I really do it? Sacrifice my kinky curly hair for a brief moment of madness? Sure there's nothing wrong with relaxed hair...but all my hard work caring for my natural hair gone in a flash.

Time will tell.

Working My Way Back To the Sew In....

2011-02-05T03:06:00.002-06:00

Well....

I had to give up the Biotin...too many breakouts soooo....

BUT.....

My love for the half wig is beginning to falter. Synthetic hair just doesn't cut it for me anymore. Don't get me wrong. My favorite wig, Tammy, gives me an average of fifteen compliments a day. 60 second hairdos when you are habitually late for work and its winter time in the Midwest is what's up! LOL

Keeping my hair braided underneath while cowashing my hair every week or so has seemed to be doing my hair a world of good. My health seems to be failing even more but due to the illness that I have, I've experienced no hair loss which is a good thing. This low maintenance regimen is working for me.

Alas, I miss my tree braids and sew in with my Indian hair. Especially when it starts to get warm outside. I would get in the shower, cowash my hair, scrunch it with a t shirt, jet off into my car and let my sunroof open, fly down the highway going 70mph while it dries. When I get to work, I'll have lovely lovely curls thanks to my Indique from the PURE collection which is still going strong.

Its coming soon...hopefully.....maybe.

But until then....

**Supermodel plops on another synthetic half wig and trots off to work**

2 Weeks of my Biotin Challenge and...

2011-01-19T09:29:00.002-06:00

Not much to report.

When I first starting taking Biotin well over a year ago, my scalp was throbbing from all the hair growth that I got.

This time? Not so much throbbing but my scalp seems to be doing something.

My hair is currently in braids and I haven't noticed any abnormal growth than the usual, although my nails are a pain because they keep growing and growing and growing.

People that know me know that I DO NOT need assistance with nail growth because they've always grown freakishly long for all of my life. My nails have grown upwards of 4-5 inches long.

(Yes I was called cat woman)

My complexion is starting to suffer a bit from the Biotin with a few bumps here and there so I've decided to scale back a bit to 500 mcgs instead of the 1000 I was taking.

Remember, taking a B complex vitamin or Vitamin C in addition to taking the Biotin will help clear any breakouts you may be having.

I'll keep you posted.

Back On Biotin

2011-01-06T18:00:00.003-06:00

Got good results last year when I tried Biotin. For those that follow this blog, I had to take a sew in down after only three weeks because my hair had grown out so much from 1000 mg of Biotin daily for one month.

My nails also grew craaazy long. I'm still stuck in Shoulder Length Land and I keep missing the Arm Pit Length train. I'll get it together sooner or later.

Pics of my Hair--Straightenened....

2010-12-28T11:15:00.006-06:00

Sigh...still not at APL yet.....but if I take a little tug...I'm about an inch away. I'm heading over to walmart for a personal MN challenge for the next few months along with some Biotin pills. I'm serious ya'll. With this illness that I'm getting over, I'm barely getting the nutrition in my diet for my body.

So I spent the morning of my off day straightening my hair. First I tried a pressing comb. I got some sleek results that lasted all of twenty minutes. So I pulled out my FHI Technique and got these results.

This is my ponytail. I feel like I've been stuck here for years but it has thickened up a bit. Will I ever make it past shoulder length land?

Don't Seem To Be Making Progress

2010-12-15T08:08:00.002-06:00

Still not APL....big big....BIG SIGH!

Why Natural? Why Now?

2010-12-01T14:59:00.004-06:00

Why are Black women taking going natural more seriously than ever before?

Not really sure what the phenomenon is.

I know personally I haven't picked up a box of relaxer in months. I was originally texlaxed and was happy with that decision but I haven't touched the stuff in months.

I like my coils and curls to tell you the truth.

The thickness and versatility of my hair.

The Natural vs. Relaxed debate seems to be heating up as more and more black women around the world put down their perm brushes and reach for their denman brushes.

Now relaxed sisters still are the reigning majority and don't seem to be putting down their perms anytime soon.

Guess what.

It's quite all right.

While embracing our natural hair, we don't have to preach to others about their personal choices and decisions about their hair.

The way we wear our hair is a very personal decision and we should let everyone make that decision on their own.

Brief Updates...

2010-11-21T19:04:00.002-06:00

Still half wigging and braiding my hair. Not using any growth aides at the time. Trying to cowash my hair and keep it out of my way.

Winters can be harsh, especially here in the Midwest, so I'm trying to just forget about it.

Afro Puffs and APL

2010-11-10T12:24:00.002-06:00

Is it getting bigger?

Anyway....Those texlaxed ends are slowly falling off due to my lack in doing protein treatments. I've become so blah about my hair...especially when other health issues have taken center stage.

I did take the time the other day to wash and condition my hair, braid it back up while moisturize it with some cantu shea butter and back to rocking my half wigs.

If I can keep this up until Spring do you guys think I can make APL?

Do I smell a personal APL challenge coming on?

Braids and Half Wigs

2010-10-20T10:36:00.001-05:00

I'm still rocking half wigs ladies.

Trying to cowash on a regular basis but I'm just too sick to keep up with it. I'm sitting here with conditioner on my head now and trying to make my way to the kitchen sink to rinse it out now....I've failed several times.

I want to take this time out to thank everyone that has shown me love and support during this time. Your comments keep me continuing to write this blog.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Love,

Sonya

Breakage

2010-10-13T17:17:00.002-05:00

So I haven't really been posting anything about hair because its been depressing me. Money is very tight and I don't have the means to take care of it the way I want to.

I did a protein treatment the other day and it seems that the breakage did come to a halt. My breakage problems are at the ends where the hair is texlaxed and thinner.

I did a 2 minute treatment yesterday and braided my hair up so that I can rock my half wigs.

Sigh...so tired.

My Dirty, Conditioned Afro Puff Today

2010-09-22T13:34:00.003-05:00

Well I've been wearing braids straight to the back, leaving out some of my hair for blending purposes in the front.

So I decided to take my braids down and wash my hair. This is my hair with conditioner on it before I begin to wash it. I'm about to get my workout on on my day off. So I snapped this picture. It has grown TREMENDOUSLY! Gotten much thicker but I did get some breakage in the back.

I will do a protein treatment today but I'm not sure if I need to do a Two Step treatment from Aphogee. I don't want to disturb the balance of moisture and protein for my hair, but I'm noticing some breakage on the ends.

Sensationnel Half Wig HZ 7061

2010-09-18T22:16:00.004-05:00

HZ 7061

I absolutely love this wig. Yes you have to tame it some because it will get all Diana Ross Diva on you. I tamed it with some straight bobby pins up top. Blending was a breeze with my Edge Control that I raved about earlier this month!

She has beautiful curls and will look even better once the curls drop some. Because of the type of curls this wig has, it will probably tangle faster so I recommend taking this wig off and not sleeping in her.

This is my first go around with Sensationnel half wigs. I have tried Outre (Tammy and NeNe) which are the most superior half wigs to date. I do own a Beverly Johnson wig that I purchased three weeks ago that is suprisingly holding up well. FreeTress, I would have to say ranks the worst. Even though there are some really pretty styles, it seems as if the curly Free Tress wigs will tangle quicker than any other brand. I've tried many half wigs in the Free Tress brand.

I currently had Marion Girl and Yasmine and these wigs tangled pretty badly where they didn't last two weeks.

If this one works out, I will be purchasing her again and again. I LOVE the curls on this wig and will post an update soon.

I'm really proud of myself that I have kept my half wig regimen up in lieu of my sew ins. Half wigs are pretty frigging neat! =)

On A More Personal Note

2010-09-16T19:48:00.002-05:00

I've always been skinny.

I never saw myself as skinny but by listening to some of my friends descriptions of me, you would think that I was extremely malnourished.

I never had to do much to stay the size that I was and pretty much ate anything I wanted. No, this isn't a bragging post but this is just my experience.

Now on the other side of 30, I notice that my metabolism has slowed down some and it's starting to catch up with me. Even in 1997 when I gave birth to my first and only child, I only weighed at 138 lbs.

I currently tip the scales at 146lbs at 5'4".

Not bad but not good either. Especially since I've had to have my uniform pants altered twice because I literally split them when I got out the car.

It's not fun when you all you can do is look at the clothes in your closet but you can't put them on because they don't fit anymore.

My size 3/5 jeans don't fit any more and I'm up to a 7 and have resorted to just wearing loose fitting clothes. If it weren't for a few friends of mine donating some jeans that didn't fit them anymore, I wouldn't have jeans in my wardrobe at all.

Gaining weight represents losing control for me and a lot of women out there whether it's 6 lbs or 60lbs.

I found myself actually resorting to food to make me feel better and not really giving a rat's ass about my weight anymore.

While further slumping into a depression.

I decided to break out my Wii Fitness again and I've been working out for the past few days. I know it will take some time and watching the calories that I consume, but I'll be that size 4 again. Not putting a timeline on anything but working out makes me feel as if I'm back in control again of my life.

I prefer it that way.

Edge Control by Organic Root Stimulator

2010-09-10T11:00:00.002-05:00

How can I sing the praises of the wonderful product without sounding like a complete idiot?

This is a godsend for those who are texlaxed, natural or even relaxed that are having a hard time slicking down your edges. My tried and true Eco Styler is not a match for this wonderful product.

It has a divine scent that makes you want to taste it. (Don't) and it works like a charm. My half wigs have been looking pretty busted at the end of the day after searching for something that will keep my edges slicked down.

It doesn't require a lot, NO FLAKING....what can I say? Well let me show you better than I can tell you....

Go out and purchase this like yesterday! It ranges from $4.99-$6.99. It works. It works. It works.

Happy Birthday To ME!

2010-09-10T10:59:00.003-05:00

I'm wearing Half Wig Nene by Outre!

I'm getting older guys! 31 to be exact. Still feel like I'm in my 20's! Time waits for no one in the words of one of my favorite people in the world....

Marion Girl Half Wig

2010-08-31T07:23:00.003-05:00

You had beautiful curls in the very beginning. After a few days of wear, the curls got fluffed a bit but you became even more beautiful!

But by the next week, you became so tangled and ratty I felt like I was wearing a dead farm animal on my head. I had to run to a beauty supply, purchase another wig, and left you on the corner of Chicago and Laramie to your resting place.

I do plan to purchase you again, but alas, you are not an everyday wig. I can't blame it ALL on you though. I used a few products to try and tame you after a few days of wear, but nothing could have saved you.

Thanks for the curls.

My Tammy Wig! New Half Wig Obsession

2010-08-20T15:37:00.002-05:00

SO I'm going to half wigs right now for convenience and for the fact that I don't have any money to get my sew in done at the moment. SO I've been scouting beauty supplies for the Tammy wig to avoid going to online sites so I didn't have to pay for shipping plus the wait time.

I found a BSS that sells every wig in the world!

So I picked up Tammy and Marion Girl because they were curly wigs and they fit the texture of my texlaxed/natural hair. I haven't put a relaxer near my hair in months so I have a lot of crazy textures going on in my hair right now.

I love my half wigs though especially Tammy. She is buttery soft and blends effortlessly in my hair. Other curly products can be used to tame her because she can get pretty big on you. Conditioner works to make the curls in Tammy pop.

There are a least a million and one videos on Tammy that can be found on Youtube so you dont' have to take my word for it.

Really Tired Of My Hair

2010-08-14T19:25:00.000-05:00

Okay so I've been wearing my hair out for this past week due to lack of funds of getting my sew in back in. I think I'm going with tree braids and a sew in with my Halley's curls hair even though I simply adore my Indique hair to pieces.

Maybe I'll get hair for my birthday that's just around the corner. Who knows. An iPad would be nice as well.

Do I Have A BAA? (Big Ass AFro) and FOTD

2010-08-07T21:03:00.004-05:00

I combed my hair out after a long day of work for the CTA and I was shocked at the size of my Fro! It's definitely getting longer! Yay!

I'm back on my Personal MN challenge...going to use for two weeks every other day. I mix Monistat with Carrot Oil and apply with a nozzle tip applicator.

Feel free to let me know what you think of my makeup today as well. FOTD (face of the day)

I used the 88 Coastal Scents Pallate to form this look. Enjoy! : )

1 Month Comparison Shots!

2010-08-04T16:00:00.001-05:00

The picture on the right was taken today, August 4th! I'm getting closer to APL!

WOW

2010-08-02T20:05:00.001-05:00

Haven't updated in a minute and for that I truly apologize.

Life has been picking up for me in the screenwriting department. I'm still wearing the same old install that I've had for the past few weeks and I need to take it down but I have no money to put it back up.

I'm so determined to get to APL.

On the other hand, I learned how to cornrow and have been experiencing with my daughter. I'm much better than I was before and my daughter has been rocking all sorts of cute styles.

Now if I can just learn to braid her hair with extensions...

I'm Proud Chicago

2010-07-19T22:16:00.003-05:00

I'm proud of Black women that live in Chicago.

I'm starting to see more and more protective styles. So many of you are opting for phony buns and ponytails. So many of you don't know it but you are protective styling! Keep it up and you won't need the fake/bun any longer.

Now if I can just get some of you ladies to stop wearing those microbraids...and then telling your braider to braid some of those nonexistent edges.

It's Official! 1.5 Inches To APL

2010-06-28T20:55:00.001-05:00

IT'S OFFICIAL!

I've been wearing my sew ins and taking a multivitamin for my overall health. I also have been using my MN mix during the first two weeks but slacked off due to too much residue getting under the weave.

If I can keep this up, it won't be long!

The Hairstyle Of My Dreams--Short Story

2010-06-19T18:42:00.000-05:00

In my purse were my car keys, compact, broken tube of lipstick, and a picture of THE HAIRSTYLE OF MY DREAMS safely tucked away.

I studied the picture for hours; taking note of the cut, color, the striking pose of the model, even down to the makeup.

I imagined myself walking down the street rocking this hairstyle. Getting admirable stares from the men and the sound of sucking teeth from jealous women reverberated through my head.

The plan is set. I planned to stroll into that salon with THE HAIRSTYLE OF MY DREAMS in mind.

Then it dawned on me, “What if she doesn’t get it right?”

Of course she was going to get it right!! She's a hairstylist for goodness sakes. She had to get it right. Or all that training was going to a complete waste of time. Hers and mine.

With a confident look on her face, she took the picture out of my hand.

"Have a seat Miss Lady." she smiled.

No problem. I felt like I was handing over to her the keys of my life.

Take a deep breath....

I relaxed a little and enjoyed getting my hair shampooed and conditioned. It made me feel like a pampered queen. Lord knows I need to.

With squeaky clean hair, I sat in the chair and let the professional go to work.

I tried to see if she was giving me exactly what I was looking for. I tried to sit comfortable and relax but to no avail.

Finally when she stopped playing in my hair, taking the styling cape from around my shoulders, and twirled me around in the chair to face the mirror.

My heart stopped for a millisecond as I looked at my reflection.

Frown...quickly replaced with a plastic smile.

“Wow thank you.” The words purged out of my mouth, but it was too late. She saw the initial reaction.

“You know I’m not able to get it EXACTLY how you wanted it.”

I thought to myself, “Who the HELL is THAT woman and what the HELL did you do with ME?!?!”

Instead I nodded my head and shoved the money into her hands.

I rushed out of the salon and headed straight for the car so that no one could see THE MONSTROSITY on the top of my head.

I pulled down the visor on my car and began to fuss with it.

At home, I made a beeline for the bathroom mirror. I looked at THE MONSTROSITY on my head but wait...it doesn’t look too bad. Let me see....

I grabbed every hair clip, comb, brush, gel, and hairspray in my arsenal and got to work for a few minutes.

There...that’s much better. Not really sure what was missing from my hairstyle, but I made it work for ME.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I bounced from the bathroom mirror feeling beautiful again.

Maybe not like the diva in the picture but diva enough for me.

My Halley's Curls Salon Relaxed Install

2010-06-10T13:33:00.002-05:00

I purchased some Halley's Curls Salon Relaxed because the other hair that I purchased was cut up so many times, I had to get rid of it.

I love love love this hair because it matches African American texture to a T.

I am still using the large silk Relaxed closure that I purchased early last August of 2009.

I have a small bald spot in the middle OF THE CLOSURE (NOT MY HAIR) but it is not very noticeable. I am very impressed with the quality of their hair and have never had an issue with their customer service to date.

I hope you like. :)

The Rules To Transitioning Part Two

2010-06-02T21:14:00.002-05:00

Transitioning from Relaxed to Natural

More ladies are making the transition from relaxed to natural every day but are not sure on how to do so. It may or may not be as easy as it seems, especially when a lot of black women relax their hair in the first place for more "manageable" hair.

There are two ways to transition when going natural. That's the BC (Big Chop) where you chop off all the relaxed portions of your hair and start over or you gradually cut the relaxed ends off to retain a certain length.

THE BIG CHOP

It can be a big shock to some systems to chop all their hair off and rock a TWA (teeny weeny afro) For most people, this is the easiest way to transition. Start off with a fresh head of hair!

Some wait until they have at least two inches of natural hair before chopping their hair off to avoid wearing the TWA. It's all a matter of preference. I know a lot of ladies that just want enough hair to be able to braid so that they can rock sew ins and other protective styles until their hair gets enough length.

RETAINING LENGTH AND TRANSITIONING.

This is where it gets tricky. The line of demarcation (where the relaxed hair and natural hair meets) is very weak. If you don't take proper care of your hair, the relaxed portion of your hair WILL break off. No if, ands, or buts about it.

Natural hair needs moisture while relaxed hair needs more protein. I must stress that it is very important to keep your protein and moisture balance in check when trying to hold on to those relaxed ends.

Low manipulation styles will serve you best when trying to make the transition. You must remember that those relaxed ends must eventually be cut off. I know some ladies that cut off an inch at a time as their natural hair grows.

When going natural, your hair needs constant moisture to maintain or else it will get dry and break.

I must also state that if you are making the decision to go natural but you are addicted to straight hair, you are looking for a setback to happen.

In order to succeed in making the natural transition is the acceptance of natural hair. A lot of ladies fall into the trap of always rocking straight hair and getting used to that look. They constantly use heat to maintain that look and have setback after setback.

There is nothing wrong with using heat or rocking straight hair from time to time but one must embrace her natural curls and be comfortable rocking your hair in its natural state.

Still want to rock straight hair and be natural? Go for a full sew in or a cute wig. There are a lot of naturals that are "heat trained" which means they use heat to maintain their hair to keep it straight (not bone straight). This method will eventually loosen the curl pattern in your hair which is really slight heat damage.

Some naturals swear by this method and don't mind loosing their natural curl pattern to get rid of single strand knots that are the devil for most naturals.

Kudos to all the women out there that are learning to embrace their natural curls.

2010-05-24T21:06:00.003-05:00

The Rules To Transitioning Part One

2010-05-24T07:32:00.003-05:00

Transitioning is a big step for many. There are more naturals and texlaxed women every day than in recent years and it's very exciting but there are some ground rules to follow for a smooth transition.

TRANSITIONING FROM RELAXED TO TEXLAXED

Texlaxing is the act of placing the relaxer on the hair for the minimum amount of time to achieve a more relaxed curl than the current hair type in your head.

I am texlaxed and leave the relaxer on my head for 7-9 minutes before rinsing. My hair is not BONE STRAIGHT but leaves a curl. There are different degrees to texlaxing. Some leave the perm in for 5-7 minutes. Depending on the coarseness of your hair, that could get the root just a little curly. Those people can pass as a natural any day.

Others texlax to get a more defined curl. Also depending on the type of your hair, you can go from a Z pattern or an S pattern, or even spiral curls (for texlaxed ladies in the 3s hair type)

Some people call texlaxing "underprocessing" which means that you did NOT give the perm enough time to process the hair straight.

Texlaxing hair is great for those that want a great medium in between natural hair and relaxed hair. Texlaxed hair is easier to straighten and if done correctly, will curl back up once it is wet. It also takes a longer time to revert back to curly than it is for naturals.

The DOWNSIDE to texlaxing is that is is hard to achieve the same results all over your head. For example, the front of my hair towards the crown is the straightest but when you migrate towards the back, the hair is much curlier.

Some people do a BC or Big Chop. They chop off the relaxed portions of their head and when the new growth comes in, the begin the texlaxing transition with a fresh head of hair.

The other way they do is to keep the relaxed bone straight ends and then texlax the new growth. THIS METHOD causes more drama because that relaxed hair is weakened by the chemicals and your texlaxed hair is not as weak. There is a line of demarcation (where the texlaxed hair and relaxed hair meets) This area must be kept strong with a delicate balance of moisture and protein in order for you to keep those relaxed ends.

Sooner or later, the relaxed ends may have to go. Right now I'm holding on to about two inches of relaxed ends that are hanging on because I use the right products and methods.

1. Make sure you DEEP CONDITION with a good conditioner. I recommend Mizani Moisturefuse and Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner. This should be done 1x to 2x a week.

2. You need a good protein conditioner as well. Nexxus Emergencee, Aphogee 2 Step(hard protein), Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor (light to mild protein) Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayo (medium protein) Mizani Kerafuse (moderate protein LOVES THIS STUFF; MAKES MY HAIR STRANDS LIKE STEEL)

3. Low manipulation styles where you're not handling your hair daily are best during this time.

Stay tuned for Part Two

HCSR--Halley's Curls Salon Relaxed

2010-05-18T20:07:00.001-05:00

So I just picked up my HCSR from the post office today. I ordered 12 and 14 inches. Not sure when I'm going to get my hair done again because I'm really into the growth aides for the next few months or so but I really do miss my swinging voluptuous weaves.

I'll weave it up sooner or later.

Tired of Blending Your Weave? Solution Here!

2010-05-14T11:13:00.002-05:00

To all my 4a/b curly haired sisters,

Are you tired of flat ironing your leaveout so that your weaves will blend flawlessly with your hair texture?

Naturals, are you tired of trying to find closures that match your hair and other alternatives to make sure you a sporting a flawless weave?

Or are you doing a big NO NO by flat ironing that leave out every day?

Tsk tsk.

There is a solution.

Try wearing a weave that matches your texture for a change.

Now I can almost hear you now.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

http://www.halleyscurls.com/store/page43.html

Halley's Curls offers a new texture called, "Natural".

Put that flat iron down and pick up some Miss Jessies'!

http://www.missjessies.com/

Rocking YOUR natural texture has never been this easy.

I ordered some Salon Relaxed early this morning and can't wait for it to get here, but I am keeping my eyes on the Natural collection that Halley's is offering.

Watch for it...soon!

Sulu Max Gro

2010-05-14T00:49:00.005-05:00

Rocking the afro puff...
Okay. So I've been using this for about three weeks now in my hair. I purchased it for my daughter and she used it for a little while but stopped recently due to laziness.

So I picked up where she left off and started to use in my hair. So far so good. I can't really speak on growth because I haven't straightened my hair to see but the new growth that I have coming in is thick and wiry. I use it at least every other day.

SULU does have a smell that takes some getting used to. I try to apply it at night and then go over it with a great smelling leave in conditioner like my Neutrogena Leave In Cream.

My scalp feels a little sore which could indicate that I'm getting a growth spurt. I also started taking Biotin 1000mcg every day. Hey every inch counts, right?

The important thing to remember is that SULU is very messy. IF you get some on your neck because it's runny, it is important to wipe it off immediately with warm water and soap.

The sulfur in the product could start to irritate your skin. I learned this the hard way and went racing to the drugstore to get some cortisone cream. That did the trick, thankfully.

I just ordered some more Halley's Curls Salon Relaxed and I want some new AAMH (all about my hair) Kinky Curly hair to add to my stash.

Will post pics soon.

Length Check

2010-05-06T23:30:00.000-05:00

It may not look like much progress but I did trim an inch of relaxed ends that were getting on my nerve a few weeks ago.

Beauty Product of The Week--St. Ives Green Tea Scrub

2010-05-03T20:41:00.004-05:00

I just saw this at Walgreens on sale for $3.99.

It was worth a shot! I'm so glad that I did. It smells wonderful and it feel great against my skin. My face is literally glowing right now.

It is the must buy product. I love St. Ives beauty products because they are inexpensive and get the job done.

But meanwhile, I'll be stocking up on this product tomorrow before it goes FLYING OFF THE SHELVES!

FOTD and a new Bantu Knot Set

2010-04-29T12:16:00.001-05:00

Okay so I did a new set using John Frieda's Curl Gel and some Scurl on damp hair. I twisted my hair last night when I got off work (until 3am) and then tied it up and went to sleep.

I sat under the dryer this morning and did my face so here you go!

Tell me what you think!

On this look I used NYX Eye Pencils Hot Pink, Milk, and Black Bean.

My Failed Attempt at Bantu Knots

2010-04-28T13:57:00.001-05:00

Well what do you think? I think I look like a damn fool.

What say you?

What To DO?

2010-04-27T18:42:00.002-05:00

Well I took my hair down today because it was literally falling apart. I love my Indique hair so much but I need to purchase some more bulk hair for the front part where I get the tree braids.

So until then, I'm rocking my own hair. I've also been thinking about buying two lace front wigs and alternating between the two plus the Indique. I don't want to see my natural hair until I'm feasting on Thanksgiving turkey.

But for today...

I'm trying out Bantu knots for the first time. I'm too embarrassed to take a pic as to how they look right now. It's my first attempt but if they look semi decent, I may post a pic tomorrow morning.

On another note, I used my Sulu Max Gro for the first time. I've been using it on my daughter with phenomenal results so far.

http://www.suluhair.com/products.html

She has a lot of new growth so far and her hair is just flourishing. And to think in February, she ran to me crying because her hair had broke off so badly. Right now, her regimen is cowash, moisturize with S curl, seal with Hot six oil or Jamaican Black Castor oil, use SULU and put in a phony pony.

IF I can get her to stick to this regimen, she should be shoulder length by the time she's helping me finish the turkey in November.

As I type right now, my hair is starting to itch since I put that Sulu in. Hmmm...we'll see.

New Addition to Babygirlhair.com

2010-04-21T20:39:00.004-05:00

Okay so I'm delving into the world of makeup. I understand that this is mostly a hair blog but my makeup stash is actually getting bigger than my hair stash. Disturbing right.

Just a hint. I picked up all these Jumbo Eye Pencils from www.cherryculture.com on sale. I'm going to have a ball with those.

100,000 Hits and Counting

2010-04-16T11:52:00.001-05:00

Thank you to my many readers of Babygirlhair.com! I am well over 100,00 hits and counting. You guys have truly made my day. I love sharing my knowledge and information with you guys and I appreciate the enormous support and feedback that I get from my readers.

Thanks again!

Supermodelsonya

A Baby Pic....

2010-04-09T20:32:00.001-05:00

From L toR

My sister Marcy, Me, and my twin Tanya

Stupid Relaxed Ends!!!!!

2010-04-07T20:25:00.002-05:00

I'm slowly losing the battle with my super duper relaxed ends.

While its giving me length, they are not in the greatest shape. Since they are the oldest part of my hair and have been permed over and over again into oblivion, they are snapping off.

I did a slight dusting of them the other day before putting my install back in. (Oh yeah I got my hair done...I'll post pics perhaps this week) My hair really didn't look like it got longer but it did get thicker.

I don't think I'll make APL in June now. It will probably happen around my birthday. I'm just going to keep weaving it up and cowashing. My scalp was in pretty good condition now that I cowash more often.

We'll see what happens.

Where In THE World Have I BEEN?? AUSSIE MOIST CONDITONER

2010-04-06T07:27:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I've waited all this time to try this conditioner. I've heard so many good things about it. I was in the grocery store yesterday and I was making the decision between Suave's Almond and Shea conditioner and this.

I sat there so long trying to decide, I'm sure the security camera zeroed in on me a few times.

So I mixed this up in a pre poo with some jojoba oil and some cholesterol and proceeded to take my sew in down.

TALK ABOUT SOFT HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This doesn't really provide a lot of slip but it does leave your hair so moisturized. Almost so, you want to use as a cowash.

I brought it for $2.39. It has a soft and creamy consistency that is very thick. This conditioner is ideal for cowashing, regular quick conditioners (not deep conditioners) and pre poos.

Awesome buy. I will get around to reviewing Suave soon. It's ingredients are supposedly comparable to Aveda.

The Official Indique Review

2010-04-02T17:58:00.004-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5WCnAHV7H8&feature=channel

If it doesn't play here click

Making Waves With Garnier Fructis

2010-04-02T17:50:00.002-05:00

Enjoy! I had some fun doing this video and editing it as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swqez1btNGA

Click here if it doesn't play...

Sorry....

2010-03-29T18:21:00.003-05:00

Haven't been feeling well lately. Stuck at Northwestern Hospital for the past two days in Chicago.

But I just want to say, my Indique hair is about the flyest thing on me right now lol.

Will post soon when I get out of this dungeon.

Indique Hair Still Going Strong

2010-03-24T08:51:00.002-05:00

I love this hair so much. I get so many compliments on it all day long. It's incredible. The best purchase that was made so far.

I still love my Halleys Curls, don't get me wrong. I've only tried the relaxed texture and it is far superior than any other hair that I've worn. I do plan on making another purchase of that hair shortly. But I don't know if I am going to purchase a closure to go along with it. I probably will though and venture into using the Lace closure instead.

I'm also looking at virgin curly hair but am still making a decision on which curly hair to purchase. I'm looking at Lanik's Virgin curly at www.lanikshair.com or JuJu natural curly at www.jujuhair.com.

Unfortunately Lanik's hair is always sold out due to popular demand. So Ju Ju look out.

I'm working on a serious hair stash for 2010 but I'm really falling in love with my own natural hair. I don't use growth aides too much while in a sew in because the hair grows out too quickly thus making me get another install much sooner than anticipated.

But the MN was working wonders for me giving me an inch in one month. If I can keep up that pace, I can make APL definitely by the summer time since I'm about two inches away from hitting that goal.

New Pics of my Indique Hair!

2010-03-15T12:36:00.004-05:00

Sexy, huh?

Even though I purchased the Indique Straight from the Pure collection, this hair has a beautiful wave pattern. So beautiful that I decided to embrace the natural curls for a really soft bedhead look. I've been turning heads all week!

I cowashed my hair with Suave Coconut Conditioner and then did the plopping method with the curls.

I found this on naturallycurly.com.

It works wonders.

Todays curls were achieved from applying a little mousse and some Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner as a leave in.

I love this hair and I've yet to wear it pin straight! Stay tuned for those pics shortly

Week One Of Indique Hair

2010-03-12T21:22:00.001-06:00

Well one week has passed since I've had this lovely hair installed. Too my surprise, this hair has a lovely body wave when washed. It's so pretty, I purchased some John Frieda Dream Curls and wet my hair, while spraying the product in.

The result? Beautiful curls! I have yet to straighten this hair and will probably do so over the weekend. Don't worry. Will take plenty of pictures... :)

My Indique Hair!

2010-03-04T10:42:00.002-06:00

I just got it installed yesterday and I LOVE IT!

No tangling, shedding, NADA! Just beautiful gorgeous hair. When I first had it installed, it was almost waist length in the back but mostly mid back length. I cut an inch and a half because of the scraggly split ends that the donor had to give it a clean look.

I'm very happy with my hair! I got sooo many compliments yesterday. Here are just a few pictures to begin with. I am still working on my You Tube Video review.

Thanks!

Mizani Butter Blends and Elasta QP Creme Conditioning ShampooReview

2010-03-01T13:02:00.006-06:00

So.....

I took my tree braids/sew in out yesterday after I asked my 12 year old how long did I have before I started looking bad.

She stated I had a day left.

I went looking for the scissors and a comb immediately.

Anywho....

I picked up Mizani Butter Blend Relaxer upon the suggestion of my buddies on the hair boards and I was impressed!

Let me just reiterate that I love love LOVE MY TEXLAXED HAIR! I can wear my natural curls and rock my hair silky straight if I please. I left the relaxer on for a total of eight minutes while smoothing it out some. The hair in the middle of my head was especially coarse and tight. While using this relaxer, I was able to straighten my curl pattern enough to have that S curl. I was playing in my new "springy" curls all morning long!

With hair this pretty, it's gonna be tuff to keep my hands out of it!

My hair was very silky after I washed out the relaxer and use the neutralizing shampoo. I also picked up Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo and washed my hair with it.

It was a nice shampoo. My hair felt more moisturized with this shampoo than using others, but not as good as my old Cream of Nature shampoo that was discontinued. It is a great alternative.

Here is my hair after the results.

Quick Update

2010-02-27T07:49:00.002-06:00

I am working on Part One and Part Two of my Indique review. I have not installed the hair yet because I'm trying to go as long as possible with the current install that I have.

Also I will be doing a length check to post on here shortly when I take the current install down. I can't wait.

Sorry for being gone so long....

My Indique Hair!

2010-02-15T17:46:00.003-06:00

Close up view of the wefts.

Their excellent packaging. For some reason I thought the tubes would be larger....

Just a fun pic of my niece and my daughter in the back....

Well I just purchased the 18 inch straight machine wefted and bulk and a 16 inch machine wefted all straight.

Out of the bag, no shedding and barely there beards. Just what I'm looking for.

I plan on installing this hair in probably two more weeks. I'm going to try to hold on to my current install as long as I can. I'm wearing tree braids in the front and the sew in in the back.

This hair smells awesome....just freshly washed but slightly.....SLIGHTLY damp. This hair was sent next day air so I'm sure they had to wash it and ship it right away.

I can't wait to wear this hair. I'm going to try to preserve it better than I did my Halley's Curls.

I'm about to purchase some more of the Salon Relaxed and try a new brand called JuJu hair as well.

I'm working on building a serious weave stash for 2010. I don't know if I'm going to see my hair at all with these fabulous installs I'm going to be rocking this year!

Stay tuned...

FHI Technique G2

2010-02-15T17:41:00.003-06:00

My new flat iron!

I found this beauty at Sally's Beauty Supply store today for just $99. It is an older model of the FHI but still a goodie....

I did a strand test on my niece today and my Halley's Curls Salon Relaxed. This iron does the job mostly. Nothing too impressive. It gets my hair only slightly straighter than my Babyliss that I got from TJ Maxx for just $24.

If you're looking for an iron with better results, you may want to look at the FHI Platform or the Sedu.

Indique Hair

2010-02-12T11:43:00.003-06:00

https://www.indiquehair.com/indique/home.do

Thanks to a great friend of mine, I was able to get my hands on some Indique hair. They sell Indian hair at moderate prices but the hair is supposedly of superior quality.

I will post pictures and give a review soon when I get the hair installed. I will get it installed in a few weeks because I'm currently in my Halley's Salon Relaxed with tree braids in the front.

I can't wait to get this hair installed. The specs are 16 and 18 inch machine wefted and 18 inch bulk.

I will keep you guys updated. I can't WAIT to see this hair!!!

A New Flat Iron?

2010-02-10T09:51:00.002-06:00

I'm looking for a new flat iron. While I love my Babyliss Ceramic pro, I wanted to see what the hype was all about with the CHI, the FHI, the Solia, and the Sedu.

I'm leaning towards either a Solia or a Sedu.

What say you readers?

RIP Halley's Curls Salon Relaxed :(

2010-02-01T22:19:00.002-06:00

Well that hair is a done deal. I got about seven months out of it definitely.

It's been installed and cut so many times. Plus with me taking down a few installs , I've had a few mishaps along the way.

I had my tree braids with sew in installed today and my stylist told me today that it was time to retire the hair.

I love the Halley's Salon Relaxed. It is THE best hair that I've purchased...hands down.

I would like to repurchase in the near future but I wanted to try www.indique.com

or a new kid on the block Arjuni, which sells Cambodian hair.

I will post pics very soon. I'm dead tired right now.

Random Hair Thoughts For The Month of January

2010-01-28T20:02:00.003-06:00

.......Boy my hair is really, really, really kinky towards the middle of my hair. I am super underprocessed in that area and I noticed that I don't give it enough moisture. I have to remember to use extra moisture...

I picked up Suave Humectant at the store yesterday and did a co-wash on dry hair first, sat with a plastic cap on for ten minutes, and then rinsed thoroughly. My hair felt really moisturized.

My chest hurts from this stupid respiratory infection.

I wore my hair in a huge puff while I rocked a banana clip today. It was really really cute.

I relaxed my edges a few days ago...just because I was tired and they wouldn't listen to me when I told them to lie straight.

My cat was playing with my texlaxed curlies the other night. It was really cute....and strange.

I applied my MN mix today.....I made sure I mixed in a lot of Hot Six oil. Hopefully mixing with more product keeps the headaches away.

The End.

Ok Giving MN Another Shot

2010-01-27T05:38:00.003-06:00

If you look at my November (?) pics and my recent progress pictures, you will see that I got a good inch of growth. Maybe a little more huh?

The only thing that I did different was use my MN mix for two weeks before my problem started. I put my mix away and got my tree braids with sew in.

Now from my friend on BHM stated that my mix was too potent. In some boxes, you get a tube that's 4% and a smaller tube that's 2% for external use.

I was informed that YOU NEVER MIX THE TWO TOGETHER because it brings down the potency of your mix. 4% + 2% =/= 6%

It equals 3%.

Second....you have to mix the MN with something else that has a thicker consistency like Megatek, ORS Hair Fertilizer, or other products. If you are getting side effects, it means your mixture is TOO strong.

Thanks BHM! I mixed my mix more consistently and so far so good with no headaches. We'll keep a close watch on it.

2010 Length Progress--Made CBL!

2010-01-21T08:12:00.003-06:00

WOW all this progress! I had no idea my hair was this long in the back!

This is the right side of my hair....the longest side. Sigh...

This is the left side of my hair, the side that has some catching up to do.

What Length Are You?

2010-01-20T21:17:00.003-06:00

I just made CBL which is collarbone

length. It falls right at your collarbone and past the shoulder blade. Most people will call this full Shoulder length as well.

Well, looks like I'm a good three inches away from APL. If I make it there, that will the longest my hair has ever been in my life.

What length are you?

BTW using glycerin in my pre poo the other day was really a godsend. My hair is so soft and luxurious! I also followed up with an egg treatment. I mixed the egg with some Organic Root Stimulator conditioner, whipped it together, and poured it over my head.

I did forget for a moment to wash in LUKEWARM water and I wound up with scrambled eggs in the front of my hair. I had to shampoo my hair AGAIN! Lesson learned. I wanted to do a protein treatment because I haven't used a relaxer in quite some time. I have at least 3 inches of natural hair that is battling with texlaxed ends.

That is a battle that I don't want to lose again. If you are stretching for long amounts of time, you need to make sure that your line of demarcation stay STRONG! This is what led me to my setback last year around this time. The line of demarcation is where your natural hair meets your chemically treated hair. This line needs to remain strong or else this is where your hair will start to break first.

Finally!

2010-01-19T12:33:00.002-06:00

Took my tree braids with sew in out!

Phew!!!!

I didn't know how much longer I was gonna last under there. When my hair starts to look how I feel (tired), I get antsy as to when I'm going to take them down.

Today was the day thanks to an early day at work.

The whole take down took me 2 hours as I was sitting there watching the Haiti Earthquake updates...crying....

When I finally took down the last braid, I decided to try out a new pre poo which is more moisture based.

I used Suave Coconut conditioner, Garnier Fructis 3 Min Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment, and some glycerin. I mixed in a bowl, applied to my hair with a shower cap and two skull caps.

(Using body heat...)

Not sure if I'm going to get my hair done tomorrow or Thursday but whatever I decide, you'll be the first to know.

I may do a length check later...or not. Trying not to be antsy because this is the year I hit APL and I don't need any setbacks.

Looking for Hair Growth in 2010?

2010-01-10T07:46:00.003-06:00

Just open your medicine cabinet and pull out the old treadmill.

No seriously. Hair vitamins and exercise are a great way to boost growth!

Vitamins for growth

MSM

Biotin

Sillica

Horsetail

B12

Iron

Vitamin E

Beta Carotene

Now I'm not saying that you should go and buy all these vitamins at once. But find a good multivitamin and fit some exercise in your daily routine, and watch your hair do it's thing.

I must also inform you that if you already have a diet that gives you all of your dietary needs, your body will do nothing with the vitamins that you intake. What your body doesn't use, you'll just urinate it out.

That could be a total waste. Vitamins are not cheap you know.

A great way to tell if your body isn't getting all that it needs is to look at the condition of your nails. Are they brittle? Do they break easily?

I'm taking a one a day multivitamin and doing some exercise with my Wii Fit. Hopefully I can optimize my hair growth for this year. I want to be as close to BSB (beyond shoulder blade) as possible.

Been Getting My Workout on...

2010-01-07T12:23:00.002-06:00

So you know what that means?

I have to wash my hair more. Nothing really wrong with that but I'm trying to keep these tree braids in longer and the more you wash, the more they start to loosen.

I guess these tree braids are going to have to be redone over pretty soon. I've had them in for at least three or four weeks. I'll try to hang on at least one more week.....

2010-01-01T15:28:00.001-06:00

Happy New Years!

2009-12-31T20:01:00.003-06:00

New Resolutions....

Try more protective styles and venture out with ....dare I say it....lacefront wigs.

Continue wearing protective styles to get to my goal lengths.

I'm 4 inches from APL and 8 inches from BSB (beyond shoulder blade).

IF I retain all that I grow, by the end of December 2010, I should be at least two inches from BSB.

We shall see......perhaps using a growth aide here and there will get me to BSB more quickly.

What are some of your New Years Resolutions?

Afroveda Anyone?

2009-12-25T19:01:00.004-06:00

On LHCF, I've been reading a lot of good reviews about Afroveda products.

www.afroveda.com

"AfroVeda created a system whereby you can select hair products based on your individual needs. Our which categorizes hair in the
following types:"

Vata Dosha: Hair that is thin, dry, frizzy and prone to split ends.
Pitta Dosha: Hair that is fine and prone to premature thinning or graying.
Kapha Dosha: Hair that is very thick and oily.

I am a VATA but that didn't stop me from ordering the CoCoLatte Moisture Mask and the Carrot Seed Shampoo bar.

Let me tell you...

I LOVE IT!!!! If you have dry hair and are looking for THE product to restore moisture, look no further than the Cocolatte! It smells DIVINE!!! My daughter uses it in her hair daily and I don't know what other product that keeps her hair looking, feeling, and smelling good.

I just used the Carrot Seed shampoo bar on my hair and it smells and feels so clean. That was my first time using a shampoo bar and I loved the experience.

Afroveda...you have a customer for life.

Readers, go on www.afroveda.com today to learn your Dosha type. That way you can buy products for your hair type. But don't let that stop you! I saw a lot of products that aren't necessarily for Vata's but I want in my PJ stash because they look so deliciously yummy!

Her products are very reasonable and you'll be in love just as I am right now! Now shipping takes a while longer because the products are made fresh. It is WELL WORTH THE WAIT!

Afroveda gets 5 STARS for great customer service and great products.

Try it today! I guarantee, you'll be in love as well!

Side Effects From Using MN in my Hair

2009-12-21T20:33:00.002-06:00

I forgot to post this.....forgive me but it IS the holiday season.

I had to stop my MN concoction ASAP! I started getting low grade migraines, along with shooting pain down the side of my face.

Not to mention I thought I was hearing a weird noise in my house. It kept continuing until I realized....

IT WAS ME!!!!!!!!

Well my ears started ringing!!!! My MN mix is sitting on the counter and will never be used again. Some people have used MN without any side effects but if this sounds like you, don't ever put your health in jeopardy for a few inches of hair growth. If you have ANY side effects, STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

I thought I share this with my readers.

Thanks! : )

Tree Braids with Sew In--Pics

2009-12-13T19:24:00.003-06:00

I'm being really lazy right now but I really don't feel like getting

my digi cam and taking a real photo so with the help of Photo

Booth (MAC application) I took these pictures.

Only the front half of my hair is in a sew in...more so like the horseshoe part while the rest is a sew in. I used my Outre Premium Now Bulk hair in 1B and my trust Halley's Curls Salon Relaxed which still looks awesome!

GVP Low EMF Hair Dryer Review-Sallys Beauty Supply

2009-12-09T09:44:00.002-06:00

This Blowdryer was $29.99 at Sally's...on sale until 12/31/2009. I read somewhere that it was comparable to the CHI Rocket...as it states on the front cover.

So I ran down to Sallys to get my very own.

With the help of some Beyond The Zone Turn Up The Heat protectant, I pulled it right out of the box and decided to do a light blow dry.

The first picture is the way my hair looked before. I am texlaxed and washed my hair yesterday. I got a whole lotta curlies in between there and was having a hard time putting my hair in a simple ponytail holder.

I even broke one and sent it flying across the room, in the direction of my poor cat Diva.

Sorry kitty.

Anywho...these are my results afterwards after a very light blowdry. (I've exceeded my heat passes for the month of December)

PROS

*Very quiet

*The air that comes out isn't very forceful, but just enough to get the job done.

*Comes with a diffuser and concentrator

* The price

* Not very heavy

CONS

*I kept turning the dryer off by mistake because of how the switches are positioned.

*Doesn't come with a pik, but Conair sells one at Sally's that will fit this dryer for about $6 bucks.

I recommend this dryer to anyone that wants a great dryer but doesn't want to pay the price of the CHI rocket.

Thanks for reading.

My Christmas List (Hair Edition)

2009-12-07T07:13:00.003-06:00

Okay....I want a lot of things for Christmas but related to my hair.

A CHI Rocket Dryer....or the generic counterpart from Sallys

Halley's Salon Relaxed with full closure (mine has been cut over and over again)

Biosilk Shampoo and serum ( I heard this stuff was the truth)

Ovation Cell Therapy

FHI Technique flat iron or a SEDU

What's on your X-mas list?

MY MN MIX

2009-12-06T15:46:00.002-06:00

Okay so far so good with the MN.

I can't really measure any growth yet because I've only been using it for a week. I was mixing with jojoba oil but I found an old sample of the ORS Fertilizer and decided to mix it with the MN today.

I liked the consistency of the ORS and the smell. The ingredients weren't too bad either. I will post my results shortly.

In the meantime, I can't wait to get my sew in w/tree braids. I liked my Halley's closure A LOT but I think I want to get my braids again to switch it up a bit.

Back on the MN Grind...

2009-11-28T21:35:00.004-06:00

Okay so I just made SL...

I need APL like yesterday! So I decided to take these tubes of monistat that were sitting around my bathroom and mixed it with Jojoba oil. For those that remember, I tried using MN before but got mind numbing headaches from it.

So I decided instead of using it straight, I decided to mix it and got no headaches at all!!! Yay!!!!

Now hopefully I get some growth from it. I've seen pictures where some people have gotten one inch consistently.

We'll try it out and see...

Am I Shoulder Length Yet?

2009-11-28T20:15:00.001-06:00

Is this SL ladies?

I'll let you decide....

I straightened my hair with my new Babyliss Pro Iron with CHI Silk Infusion. I love this stuff and my hair got straight after one pass. I love it love it love it!!!!

Pre Poo Results

2009-11-28T18:31:00.002-06:00

What the hell have I been doing with my hair?

Why don't I pre poo more often?

I mixed my Lustrasilk Mango Cholesterol with Honey and Jojoba oil together and it worked perfectly! First, it smelled so delicious that I wanted to eat it. Second, my hair was tangle free and felt so moisturized after I washed.

I hope my scalp will thank me for this and I will do a pre poo with every sew in take down that I do. My money is really funny for now but I will get my sew in back at least in the next two to three weeks.

For the mean time, it will be buns for me.

What is a Pre Poo? Do You Pre Poo?

2009-11-28T12:06:00.002-06:00

What is a pre poo?

Poo is short for shampooing. Pre- is the prefix that means "before". So put them together and what do you get?

That's right.

It's a treatment you do using a combination of conditioners, oils, and other products to treat your hair and protect it from losing moisture from shampooing.

Today I did my second pre poo and I kinda like it LOL.

My ingredients

Lustrasilk Mango Cholesterol conditioner

Honey

Jojoba oil.

I mixed in a jar and slopped it on my hair, combing to detangle because I just took this weave out. I placed a plastic bag over my head and sat under my dryer for fifteen minutes. I would have sat longer, but I'm supposed to be somewhere fairly soon and I don't have a lot of time.

I'll let you know the results later.

My Next Hairstyle Will Be...

2009-11-21T12:52:00.001-06:00

Drumroll....

Okay it's not really that dramatic but I'm going to do tree braids in the front of my hair and then wear a sew in for the back.

I'm getting tired of this closure, although it still looks great!

Small Sunday Rant

2009-11-08T18:22:00.002-06:00

(START VIOLINS)

Please can someone push the fast forward button to May 2011?

When I should be well on my way to BSB (Beyond Shoulder Blade) or even past it?

I'm not even sure if I'm at SL yet. My hair has not been straightened at all and its very puffy when I wet it. I like my weave but I am tiring of it....

I just wish someone would press the fast forward button on my life.

Will I be missing out on something? I'm sure of it....but this is just getting tiring....

END RANT

(END VIOLINS)

Perm Sores : (

2009-11-02T21:02:00.002-06:00

Ugh....not good.

To prevent these...

Base your scalp very well before putting a perm in your head.

Do not scratch your head with your fingernails, combs, etc. before getting your hair permed.

Do not wash your hair at least 48 hours before you get a perm.

Doing any of these things will ensure that your scalp will be instantly irritated as soon as that chemical hits your hair! You can get perm sores from this.

Perm sores normally heal on their own after a few days. Make sure you have WASHED all of the perm out and you have used neutralizing shampoo to remove any perm residue from your hair. This will prevent further irritation.

Aloe Vera gel. vitamin E, or Neosporin with pain reliever will assist in making these sores heal. If you have more redness and scalp irritation that persists after a few days, make an appointment to see a dermatologist right away. You may have done some permanent damage to your scalp.

November 1st 2009

2009-11-01T22:33:00.002-06:00

Got my weave back in. This is my third install using Halleys Curl Salon Relaxed with closure and it still looks pretty good after fifteen weeks.

It has thinned out some but I didn't seal the wefts. I did seal the closure and that too is going really well. I made a fabulous choice when it came to Halley's Curls and I've never been happier with hair. This was truly a great investment.

I may try to install it for one last install and then I will repurchase. If I seal the wefts this time, I think I should get at least six-seven installs out of it.

My closure still looks good. It has thinned out in two different places but not noticeable. I am very pleased.

So I hope I can continue my hair to growing on the right track. It is so easy to grow your hair under a sew in weave because you can just...braid it and forget it. Rock totally fabulous hair for the next 5-6 weeks and keep it moving!