tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30214569927502506052024-03-05T22:20:42.751-08:00Heat Styled NaturalsThe official healthy hair care blog for naturals that straighten.Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-53025727801486826622011-03-19T17:46:00.000-07:002011-03-19T17:47:20.215-07:00Update: March 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjS9VEw9OWaYsLiADupgzvm2W3lq1ie2ArDNYE-Ppu1-iUG-a0HIrUNaDF4DsSHvQmXxD61EBuQWOOAIHTbs9H6rkkCblPGCwjGltHn752B0GhtI_jvquNl-4YVrnvkIVxL59Td953Y-K/s1600/lc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjS9VEw9OWaYsLiADupgzvm2W3lq1ie2ArDNYE-Ppu1-iUG-a0HIrUNaDF4DsSHvQmXxD61EBuQWOOAIHTbs9H6rkkCblPGCwjGltHn752B0GhtI_jvquNl-4YVrnvkIVxL59Td953Y-K/s320/lc1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQnl2Ha4JIymlXyAFH0zyKPzlcif1zBZjjM4qONbJWmrg2b0gVAoT9NS7klG9HhKDtAbr5zeisvGsUNcDnOvU7FDwF7XHsyL9HSmTlkWDbC-OFPtYpWnH6Xk2PxWQGx4aJwofrHdLM4CW/s1600/lc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQnl2Ha4JIymlXyAFH0zyKPzlcif1zBZjjM4qONbJWmrg2b0gVAoT9NS7klG9HhKDtAbr5zeisvGsUNcDnOvU7FDwF7XHsyL9HSmTlkWDbC-OFPtYpWnH6Xk2PxWQGx4aJwofrHdLM4CW/s320/lc2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>:-/<br />
<br />
I straightened a week ago and just got around to posting the pics. I trimmed my hair (by myself :-/) 6 days after taking these pics. <br />
<br />
My hair is in better condition than I thought it would be but there were still some issues.<br />
Because I've been wearing my hair natural since November and have not been trimming every three months like I used to, the SSK's took over. They weren't playing either. Some of them were a couple inches up the strand!! They were EVERYWHERE. <br />
<br />
I did not have a ton of split ends although I havent been moisturizing or oiling regularly but that could be because they broke off. My growth-retention did not impress me and my hair seemed thinner to me in some places. <br />
<br />
I've been thinking about going back to my old regimen until the end of the year just to go hard in 2011. I'm still not sure yet though. If I find a decent, natural looking wig, I'll let you guys know.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*please excuse the pantylines lol*</span>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-67783851097539684872011-03-04T18:48:00.000-08:002011-03-04T18:48:45.862-08:00State of the Union 2011 :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLDYm5SPMEorYDG5lfUTeI0Eundd_1HVJjqH3iMmanmNXhmUv6Og3D8dmQI8u-twOiGjaR9J_9krsnj3v2r9gzhR0r5sFOsvGR77FebNUfzMgm2TD-b4vnYi42jjNV5M6c7_BH8H8YOMI/s1600/2011twistout2.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLDYm5SPMEorYDG5lfUTeI0Eundd_1HVJjqH3iMmanmNXhmUv6Og3D8dmQI8u-twOiGjaR9J_9krsnj3v2r9gzhR0r5sFOsvGR77FebNUfzMgm2TD-b4vnYi42jjNV5M6c7_BH8H8YOMI/s320/2011twistout2.13.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Twist-out </div><br />
So after my hair reached the longest it's ever been in my life, I stopped "going hard". No more half-wigs, no more braid extensions, no more long stretches of protective styling with a hardcore moisturizing regimen. I was over it. Bored with it. Done.<br />
<br />
Right now I've just started my spring break and I plan on straightening for the first time since late last year. I want to do it right before I go back to school. I'm nervous and excited to see the "State of the Union" if you will. What effect will the deviation from last years regimen have on my progress. Will there <i>be </i>any significant progress? Regress? I'm not going to kid you, my expectations are low. I know that my strict, protective-style-heavy regimen was a major factor in my length retention.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we shall soon see...Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-13925857737111637962011-01-04T00:57:00.000-08:002011-01-08T07:42:57.728-08:002011 Let's Go!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cqFvv7BAmdD8jIA_QauJMNDWb3t4H2Egt4NQVAjPFuKkyzgxsBpwblMQFvgDuCqw4YL54YacX8O93LsziFAK79xEYrkTT87y6eX91EMsouYxh7KuFwrPNWWnUzrp7NxPrpZyOodxOZLB/s1600/pntyl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cqFvv7BAmdD8jIA_QauJMNDWb3t4H2Egt4NQVAjPFuKkyzgxsBpwblMQFvgDuCqw4YL54YacX8O93LsziFAK79xEYrkTT87y6eX91EMsouYxh7KuFwrPNWWnUzrp7NxPrpZyOodxOZLB/s200/pntyl.jpg" width="156" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Pony Tail) Taken Nov 11th 2010</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOIE_56a0Va89pQXy8Q3SLk0CMxD-Etajt2hSeqZGWb3H8jyBwEKY3I-u6NaAK0jaKKf6pWJ3queaxteoPvb_683yANlFkTEfi4pQmMcyjwwgbkmfSGTPjlmvmwsmMYeQs2C91H9_Fqka/s1600/ntrl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOIE_56a0Va89pQXy8Q3SLk0CMxD-Etajt2hSeqZGWb3H8jyBwEKY3I-u6NaAK0jaKKf6pWJ3queaxteoPvb_683yANlFkTEfi4pQmMcyjwwgbkmfSGTPjlmvmwsmMYeQs2C91H9_Fqka/s200/ntrl.jpg" width="141" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(2 week old braid-out) Taken Oct 15th 2010</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5OI2WBtqYpyws6F4RPk_TfqWbLzt79px3b9Hxf2RT7RbZBcNLmiNInyXeFJAQgBZCbPFcq968hSQAH0bMvOxUU45DPlY2ZAyzyikgvcFLnPJnvECImixU-L3sm3rphXwHddQJv73OCrX/s1600/lngthchk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5OI2WBtqYpyws6F4RPk_TfqWbLzt79px3b9Hxf2RT7RbZBcNLmiNInyXeFJAQgBZCbPFcq968hSQAH0bMvOxUU45DPlY2ZAyzyikgvcFLnPJnvECImixU-L3sm3rphXwHddQJv73OCrX/s200/lngthchk.jpg" width="147" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Pseudo-length check) Taken Oct 15th 2010</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hi, Followers old and new! I'm back with my end-of-the-year update and New Years goals. I can't believe 2011 will bring me into <i>Year Three</i> of my healthy hair journey. I started this blog in December of 2008, and although I wasn't able to keep it up the way I wanted to, it's great to have a photo journal of my progress and if it helps others-even better! Currently my longest layer is MBL and I'm not too far from WL sooo *pops champagne?*. I have not been the best at documenting over the past months due to my FT job and being a FT student but as you can see, I made a few attempts. :/</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking over my "Moving On" post from January 2010, I cannot believe how <b>fast </b>this year went by! Under my list of challenges in 2009, I can say that <b>Ive made some progress</b> in 3 out of the 4:</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-I have not been able to find a <b>protective style</b><b> </b>that I love. It's not due to a lack of styles available. It's definitely my lack of skill lol.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-I have cut the amount of <b>breakage from detangling</b> down on wash day with the help of my seamless wide-tooth comb, my steamer and pre-pooing with oil.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-I have also managed to <b>put the scissors down</b>. Split ends are not a chronic issue for me but if I happen to find them I'll dust or do the search-and-destroy method.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-As far as <b>questioning protective styling</b>, I have cut down drastically from my strict regimen in 2009. I did not use any braid extensions, half-wigs or weave in the last 6 months. I used heat more frequently than I'd like because it was convenient and gave me consistent and predictable results. I even experimented with twist-outs and braid-outs and after a couple failed attempts I fell in love with them.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Challenges in 2010:</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b>Single strand knots</b> (hate them!). Wearing loose natural styles like braid-outs and twist-outs often lend itself to SSK's for my hair. If I dont stretcch my hair with a cold blow-dry, I notice more SSK's. I just cut them out.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-Because of my full schedule, <b>my diet</b> has suffered. I dont remember when I last took a multivitamin and I've been eating way more fast food than I'm accustom to. I noticed the difference immediately in the strength of my nails so I'm pretty certain that it has had adverse effects on my hair.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-My <b>scalp</b> has recently been flaky and itchy. I started washing more frequently but it has not helped. I know it's tied to my diet because I started noticing it after I stopped taking my multivitamin and omega oil capsules. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-My <b>moisturizing regimen</b> has fallen off a cliff. I just have not been consistently moisturizing at all. My hair was less pliable, drier and more susceptible to breakage. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-<b>Product junkism</b> surfaced during the last six months of 2010. Because I was experimenting with different styles and using more heat, I'd try out new products and deviated from my regimen. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>What I've learned this year:</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-Moisturizing is important. The ends of the hair are the driest and they need that extra attention.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- In a recent youtube video Anthony Dickey said something that stuck with me <b>"Take advantage of the blow-dry." </b>That goes against what Ive learned about heat-styling in the past two years. When I heat-styled, my hair was free of product because <i>they say</i> that product weighs the hair down and it actually may promote heat damage. Anthony D uses a moisturizing leave-in to blow-dry then flat-iron natural hair. You can see his explanation in <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4GIvd_6Ckg&feature=channel">THIS</a> </b>video around the 10 minute mark. I'll be experimenting with this when I decide to flat iron my hair again.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-For a short time I experimented with clean eating, drinking green smoothies, eliminating processed sugar and cardio exercises and the results were great: better sleep, more energy, clear skin, soft skin and best of all <b>accelerated hair growth</b>. I had the time to make my own meals, exercise and do green smoothies in the morning for breakfast because I was on break from school. After school started back, I slowly crept back into my old habits...</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-Less protective styling for me meant drier hair and less retention-period. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-Finally, Ive learned that <b>longer hair equals more responsibility</b>. More time spent in the shower, more time spent detangling, more product used, more time spent styling. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> In 2011, I'd like to be waist length. I plan on using less heat, stretching my hair more, moisturizing and sealing consistently and getting my diet and exercise in check. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Even with all the challenges I faced in 2010 I definitely fell in love with my hair this year. Having this head of hair is not easy but it's all mine and I absolutely love it! *Sesame Street muppet dance* </span></div>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-62310533771651698962010-06-08T15:52:00.000-07:002010-06-08T15:52:10.423-07:00*Late* May Update.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2km3V8xm8011_Xa3juY2JZBfzn_eQX7Rh-L5URRPTKvtCD-pgb9QHLRUiEAsTKSRZRU_1-XiAUywtuv45Uyq49XdDdxJJfiFKdWkdM9jgNNWhlR_x1ggUZHGcUsKUWm8PgDkQ-0vqx_kH/s1600/SDC10083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2km3V8xm8011_Xa3juY2JZBfzn_eQX7Rh-L5URRPTKvtCD-pgb9QHLRUiEAsTKSRZRU_1-XiAUywtuv45Uyq49XdDdxJJfiFKdWkdM9jgNNWhlR_x1ggUZHGcUsKUWm8PgDkQ-0vqx_kH/s320/SDC10083.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Ive gained more thickness from leaving my hair alone. <br />
It's not for everyone but I do protective styles that dont have to be detangled on wash day i.e braids/cornrows under a half-wig . I also only comb on wash day. Low- manipulation has been KEY for me. <br />
<br />
Other than that my steamer and my seamless comb help with losing less hair and my regimen is pretty simple now: I always pre-poo under a heat cap w/ olive oil or coconut oil then detangle(which reminds me! I dont detangle with conditioner. I detangle with oil because I have fine strands). Wash w/ shampoo (in Celie plaits- not loyal to any brand), do an ACV rinse and DC. Im a fan of AOHSR and Aveda DR.<br />
<br />
TTYL :)Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-82184833736797106072010-01-27T19:48:00.000-08:002010-01-28T16:04:19.864-08:00Moving on...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtClR6qt9GPLTm_6ZQ_w6x0cJ5ynOMsFPKX2Nc-ymjyHJi1LWCshcEGS1U9aD4ZGOrAi4KK1EXoIFj-3tzyrUeH-3Owzb6gfD5vI1a-6zhRcD4ndHTVf8XFY99zqW4x8tETX-F0jxCisHt/s1600-h/frnt3edt.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431929929303511042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtClR6qt9GPLTm_6ZQ_w6x0cJ5ynOMsFPKX2Nc-ymjyHJi1LWCshcEGS1U9aD4ZGOrAi4KK1EXoIFj-3tzyrUeH-3Owzb6gfD5vI1a-6zhRcD4ndHTVf8XFY99zqW4x8tETX-F0jxCisHt/s320/frnt3edt.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 122px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Tyv4BS2KwtShlsT0sjKydWfbAg2L0UkPC2vjINvgJO8EbQgXzcQwd2BQ6B-N8O1ClYIF1GkY5T_ZcaNTequU7UvST4tgU9o7S5FgJOUanPQilAGSnc39FccsHw7IP6BH7aENKVA0FHXo/s1600-h/6edt.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431639508985384834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Tyv4BS2KwtShlsT0sjKydWfbAg2L0UkPC2vjINvgJO8EbQgXzcQwd2BQ6B-N8O1ClYIF1GkY5T_ZcaNTequU7UvST4tgU9o7S5FgJOUanPQilAGSnc39FccsHw7IP6BH7aENKVA0FHXo/s320/6edt.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 124px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 54px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aLxkV6mqT5hp9557G3M0iCu_ON_RuEmKFA4hBaDvqJpCuKrZ0F-FrN3Z7qZRRRzX43QVVmc3jt6zYOYoHKqLff1G2ro1I6PZ51qWJUbTQj1PlRY-sW9WBO7dTacMgvHtUztHI7ySVnkn/s1600-h/1edt.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431639498371446018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aLxkV6mqT5hp9557G3M0iCu_ON_RuEmKFA4hBaDvqJpCuKrZ0F-FrN3Z7qZRRRzX43QVVmc3jt6zYOYoHKqLff1G2ro1I6PZ51qWJUbTQj1PlRY-sW9WBO7dTacMgvHtUztHI7ySVnkn/s320/1edt.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 123px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 62px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglreCdBz9JQMAmCCKCE7HYDorCRBiQCW823W1szQg4F9RthIVJVCSZastkmlB8mt-Rk1qR8jemhxwChmoIZVhtjpfMMdyL953H4Cvigq5kpFKT1OBKvQe0tzA0mZe7ktr8CeWp2Rh7ArMr/s1600-h/9edt.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431639511297209474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglreCdBz9JQMAmCCKCE7HYDorCRBiQCW823W1szQg4F9RthIVJVCSZastkmlB8mt-Rk1qR8jemhxwChmoIZVhtjpfMMdyL953H4Cvigq5kpFKT1OBKvQe0tzA0mZe7ktr8CeWp2Rh7ArMr/s320/9edt.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 125px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 62px;" /></a><br />
It's 2010. Renew your goals.<br />
(my wrapping skills suck btw)<br />
<br />
This is my starting point this year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Challenges last year:</span><br />
<br />
-Finding a cute protective style: Half-wigs only worked for so long because my hair underneath was too thick and single braids with my own hair wasn't cutting it. Fake hair is not really my cup of tea anymore although they did help me reach my goal.. I'm still trying to find a style that works for me.<br />
<br />
-Cutting down hair loss on wash day: Having dense hair (meaning a lot of strands) is a challenge but when you have fine hair, you better proceed with caution whenever manipulating it. Towards the end of the year I learned that dry detangling with EVOO before washing was better than detangling with conditioner for my hair. I think I made a significant reduction in breakage from detangling.<br />
<br />
-Putting the scissors down: I dont know what it is about self-trims that make me feel as if I've just remodeled my bedroom. I just need to develop a schedule and stick to it instead of sporadic urges to trim my hair. I haven't had any issues with splits. That is definitely due to moisturizing and sealing.<br />
<br />
-Questioning protective styles: I want to do more styles that I love. So Im going to experiment with not wearing protective styles & see how my hair responds in 3 months. Not wearing protective styles means more frequent trims because of more frequent manipulation & exposure to the elements as well has harsh fabric. I may have to extend my goal if things <span style="font-style: italic;">go left </span>lol. We'll see what happens...<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />
Successes:</span><br />
-Less product trials, therefore, less money wasted. I pretty much have my set products for heat-styling as well as my normal routine products.<br />
<br />
-My regimen is predictable with certain set variations depending on what I plan on doing to my hair and how my hair is behaving (i.e hot oil treatments & light protein). Listen to your hair!<br />
<br />
-I found out that my hair doesn't like hardcore protein treatments, Ive been trying to force feed it and it hasn't turned out well. My hair craves mostly <span style="font-weight: bold;">moisture</span>.<br />
<br />
-Keeping it simple is easier. I gave away products I don't use and I stopped looking for reasons to add things I don't need into my routine. Less really is more for me.<br />
<br />
-Investments: I bought two Hercules combs (they were expensive) and I realized after buying all those cheap wide-tooth combs that snagged my hair, I could've bought the Hercules earlier and saved a lot of money and hair strands! I also bought a steamer in December while they were on sale. Heaven. On. Earth. My detangling sessions have decreased, so has hair loss. My moisture level is retained longer and my scalp feels so much better. If you want to take your DC's to a whole new level, get a steamer...NOW. I wish I had bought mine much earlier.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
2010 Goals:<br />
Full MBL would be nice. I mean, is that so much to ask?<br />
TTYL...Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-6097857408036447372010-01-27T17:34:00.000-08:002010-01-27T19:47:22.982-08:00A year later<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpXP2JBsZVmYN0myiR4vP9pKDXwHIvkXCKXDz2xwo_pC41xV8b6lySQ6ms4EJPB2bQd1yRx_wR8-1h94i_HkMWcMFBBfk62KpSJyYH6YwmwKc8yLq0jUrwA6uBBkmPI_sejfplsjw368k/s1600-h/b4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 92px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpXP2JBsZVmYN0myiR4vP9pKDXwHIvkXCKXDz2xwo_pC41xV8b6lySQ6ms4EJPB2bQd1yRx_wR8-1h94i_HkMWcMFBBfk62KpSJyYH6YwmwKc8yLq0jUrwA6uBBkmPI_sejfplsjw368k/s320/b4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431598751389444818" border="0" /></a><---We're retiring the old profile pic.<br />A few things have changed...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />January 2010...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s8OI5RQEgRua8VZPYBLb43Gu97Vd6NSa4vIBQpwdodHzkEQneN7JwUoyoh60YsktD6oGH2sUzl1fJiyakaISnQ6bMgeMb8_b-GsC0PHVhWi5dOqBqB7at141YIXwZN8IlNx3-rHN09Pq/s1600-h/11edt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 82px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s8OI5RQEgRua8VZPYBLb43Gu97Vd6NSa4vIBQpwdodHzkEQneN7JwUoyoh60YsktD6oGH2sUzl1fJiyakaISnQ6bMgeMb8_b-GsC0PHVhWi5dOqBqB7at141YIXwZN8IlNx3-rHN09Pq/s320/11edt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431600009165555634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXnwpOcTLjhQm9-c6alAyyb9LyQPIe59Pn3teBixEjvG5P-p2L_kv1BTK7zs3euMYBTf1ojZ9yF9Zz8tsnHyHCjZgHUi5nRQhsevufAuWE1cosdKG32YWMnDBWg1nUAX0JPHDqj-vbnA-/s1600-h/14edt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 77px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXnwpOcTLjhQm9-c6alAyyb9LyQPIe59Pn3teBixEjvG5P-p2L_kv1BTK7zs3euMYBTf1ojZ9yF9Zz8tsnHyHCjZgHUi5nRQhsevufAuWE1cosdKG32YWMnDBWg1nUAX0JPHDqj-vbnA-/s320/14edt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431600002941062018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrKHxHuFZZRxS1tj41Ud_OZfJmQYvrfkVttYS0ijMO2yVPrW5bvzFyXjb9URWj0yUsVgfHxDB8AD2-48XI2AcH-sm3LDl0PCDlRiOSo9NZyqfszCpTkVbz0d1c2iyEpLn-FnRYNbw2EqJ/s1600-h/2edt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 76px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrKHxHuFZZRxS1tj41Ud_OZfJmQYvrfkVttYS0ijMO2yVPrW5bvzFyXjb9URWj0yUsVgfHxDB8AD2-48XI2AcH-sm3LDl0PCDlRiOSo9NZyqfszCpTkVbz0d1c2iyEpLn-FnRYNbw2EqJ/s320/2edt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431600013284579250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3uC9n0J6iIC10HsUqJEQXNe4CnFVPOy6K2RppDZbMwE5-rv7wZzDOAtEeY50BKh69cXNPEwrZZ8F2FgMwKDzIn0fJ8LyUmHCNpQxxW9UgTSbFGck0mitucvpyFCSOtFynNBqcGAoK8GQ/s1600-h/10edt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 77px; height: 107px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3uC9n0J6iIC10HsUqJEQXNe4CnFVPOy6K2RppDZbMwE5-rv7wZzDOAtEeY50BKh69cXNPEwrZZ8F2FgMwKDzIn0fJ8LyUmHCNpQxxW9UgTSbFGck0mitucvpyFCSOtFynNBqcGAoK8GQ/s320/10edt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431600027603360786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_NmfP7Jo3PEo6UHb4hvQpHideOKvnhcnrYqEZLHTjLR3_whiMyYyzDq66AE8m5yW7VBf24QhtjstGbT2vvedOlgkEBqJUeyRhlBX_oDeJm2W0swyh8-gd0G8ani6Lm9N_8U-9zX_lqkP/s1600-h/4edt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 91px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_NmfP7Jo3PEo6UHb4hvQpHideOKvnhcnrYqEZLHTjLR3_whiMyYyzDq66AE8m5yW7VBf24QhtjstGbT2vvedOlgkEBqJUeyRhlBX_oDeJm2W0swyh8-gd0G8ani6Lm9N_8U-9zX_lqkP/s320/4edt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431600028442609250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoxd_u1q-fC2eHS1Xm4AUyp2oSCa2Q4TYX72Xu2Zta7inEKyOVnLBET5lIhW126KikfNiM_b9cba1TYXPuRWkUC2N3VS5otF-7Bl0G4jgdNf9NgTi1PYkHSDW_M1rThcVuFs7cQ8Fk-G9/s1600-h/12edt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 78px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoxd_u1q-fC2eHS1Xm4AUyp2oSCa2Q4TYX72Xu2Zta7inEKyOVnLBET5lIhW126KikfNiM_b9cba1TYXPuRWkUC2N3VS5otF-7Bl0G4jgdNf9NgTi1PYkHSDW_M1rThcVuFs7cQ8Fk-G9/s320/12edt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431602208391283618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlTmIIgJIUMWJQZGXwehhWkozYyMewwh3gEPn0RBK6aFV0Xi8wy71dPKXbZmjvG0-H7vsdE0Q8ays0o0rXOBRwgUqGB6No5m2hZojKaS1Q3VQyTjlErmUUIGg3UkJ7e-V4APzEks9gW1l/s1600-h/13edt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 76px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlTmIIgJIUMWJQZGXwehhWkozYyMewwh3gEPn0RBK6aFV0Xi8wy71dPKXbZmjvG0-H7vsdE0Q8ays0o0rXOBRwgUqGB6No5m2hZojKaS1Q3VQyTjlErmUUIGg3UkJ7e-V4APzEks9gW1l/s320/13edt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431602212047905698" border="0" /></a><br />A year later, this is where I am now. Setbacks and all.<br /><br /><br />Fuller. Shinier. Softer. Longer. It's been a pretty decent year.<br />I've made mistakes and learned from them. Ive been inconsistent and switched things up.<br />That's what the first year is all about. That's what this journey is all about. Learning, re-learning, dispelling myths and getting better before you ultimately get it right.<br />Overall, I'm very pleased with my current progress.Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-49019771331445527082010-01-26T20:05:00.000-08:002010-01-26T20:25:40.868-08:00End of '09 Random Pics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHhaommE93JeQz50r_RlffeG3NL9e-cxtaElnVZsueVsQBrbCIkweWHjsl38-dQE_kcHtNNUYo-l8ZALqAoEryz2OLZ6W3aO25GmKKbbprTfDdnuu74Fgo3dTkK9ZCl3FSrMnLXsp7xKJ/s1600-h/zplc6bg.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 44px; height: 88px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHhaommE93JeQz50r_RlffeG3NL9e-cxtaElnVZsueVsQBrbCIkweWHjsl38-dQE_kcHtNNUYo-l8ZALqAoEryz2OLZ6W3aO25GmKKbbprTfDdnuu74Fgo3dTkK9ZCl3FSrMnLXsp7xKJ/s320/zplc6bg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431266935548443650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfS5aokuhsKx090Jgdxsstwtt7etUiC7RSllvfhu4nOJA5TxeLq_hNszJeiN1PCIc_dGD3nqxAPcHStcPX6LBEo0tC6DsuopT8N3YVm6lHoxjF5DytdmJ9eTXYJPxX0uJuGBgtAS557XQ/s1600-h/lhdc09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfS5aokuhsKx090Jgdxsstwtt7etUiC7RSllvfhu4nOJA5TxeLq_hNszJeiN1PCIc_dGD3nqxAPcHStcPX6LBEo0tC6DsuopT8N3YVm6lHoxjF5DytdmJ9eTXYJPxX0uJuGBgtAS557XQ/s320/lhdc09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431266930381113298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltSO5yDS_yITa9v7QNulKvA7sW_MVPfIy95HMJxx4548s8ehxo1KPZAaca34bmaMxEdiVZcdnxUgoX2eW55H6tbbbNOrKeGgt1UFfATLnARNofmCU9U7Xs_Qmye0nvl_nNVN0ldSisnHT/s1600-h/zpnk11bg.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltSO5yDS_yITa9v7QNulKvA7sW_MVPfIy95HMJxx4548s8ehxo1KPZAaca34bmaMxEdiVZcdnxUgoX2eW55H6tbbbNOrKeGgt1UFfATLnARNofmCU9U7Xs_Qmye0nvl_nNVN0ldSisnHT/s320/zpnk11bg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431266945521879378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SJlZwPkfBxE1FuqYTLk3n2i4TIXgebJ0OsrCWQUzQ5jwa-S08st8xWNqp7UwdFywUWRLpOCmwKGv9FUlRPOdGRMnP55uG6LUbsF1epDFaHlfZyZn-rBnV2Vd2Ab2ecqf_BkilnxoQEw8/s1600-h/zpnk10bg.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SJlZwPkfBxE1FuqYTLk3n2i4TIXgebJ0OsrCWQUzQ5jwa-S08st8xWNqp7UwdFywUWRLpOCmwKGv9FUlRPOdGRMnP55uG6LUbsF1epDFaHlfZyZn-rBnV2Vd2Ab2ecqf_BkilnxoQEw8/s320/zpnk10bg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431266939885005026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Jtet8u7og_ymatjiK7QK90vSkMl3eDRVdiQFeosAI0nM36ZNOarT8UPLVA53cDreuW5bIfCix_PH87PL7GZRlhkw4t51lYCqzTnF-l1G8I0S-7MxA7SXELKxCX8a-zd2h3JyV3i71WAP/s1600-h/zpsty8bg.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Jtet8u7og_ymatjiK7QK90vSkMl3eDRVdiQFeosAI0nM36ZNOarT8UPLVA53cDreuW5bIfCix_PH87PL7GZRlhkw4t51lYCqzTnF-l1G8I0S-7MxA7SXELKxCX8a-zd2h3JyV3i71WAP/s320/zpsty8bg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431266606872117346" border="0" /></a><br />These are just some pics I had in my phone of a length check, my hair wet with conditioner and a bantu-knot fail. I have another set of pics for January. I'll go into detail, telling you what I've been doing, changed, my new goals for 2010, etc...<br /><br />I just want to say. It has NOT been easy. There were days when I got really frustrated but... long hair don't care lol!Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-60861858677920472982009-08-14T17:16:00.000-07:002009-08-14T17:27:37.806-07:00Recent Random Hair Pics July 09-April09<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxHNdipblnqifUwBn0U5cIQhGBzQijSlhP_7zKW2V7-f1SH3BhHs0198vrjlk9XcAcichzRCH5eqWM2Bo2soTXrEgayWXCs_pSo-sClI8z0r1GdjTyaElf6cNVzttDrIFIMJ8l2QaCaBN/s1600-h/pic8.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 148px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369978887681175618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxHNdipblnqifUwBn0U5cIQhGBzQijSlhP_7zKW2V7-f1SH3BhHs0198vrjlk9XcAcichzRCH5eqWM2Bo2soTXrEgayWXCs_pSo-sClI8z0r1GdjTyaElf6cNVzttDrIFIMJ8l2QaCaBN/s320/pic8.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T1ZIUQ_lY2NWSCytnkdtM0c77kepcpEi-0dkZuynVzfGaSJ1c5qws12JMebHvlba-AMlvsowIbbjDJkIzov9_SPC71hzduWicQU_PDMkqQDBuwmM4fyc2SYZ3MsOWcKN9BGTGN-xu3Is/s1600-h/pic6.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 111px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369978881081311826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T1ZIUQ_lY2NWSCytnkdtM0c77kepcpEi-0dkZuynVzfGaSJ1c5qws12JMebHvlba-AMlvsowIbbjDJkIzov9_SPC71hzduWicQU_PDMkqQDBuwmM4fyc2SYZ3MsOWcKN9BGTGN-xu3Is/s320/pic6.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1utl6_eKWPsHjySazbqxkmaWH06Gzy6xciG0yfL3I0qycv-twB5D8AY-6zyfEdwoYHodHwgFMrwTW5PwqOq8xbbQ-MTBPTdMfQ5dDzWq7LIHwnRhrU7w3Ppo0TLNE84l64jkxDhQ5G-gO/s1600-h/pic4.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 174px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369978871793053602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1utl6_eKWPsHjySazbqxkmaWH06Gzy6xciG0yfL3I0qycv-twB5D8AY-6zyfEdwoYHodHwgFMrwTW5PwqOq8xbbQ-MTBPTdMfQ5dDzWq7LIHwnRhrU7w3Ppo0TLNE84l64jkxDhQ5G-gO/s320/pic4.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfW1UCm4CIgEucpoeUL5Dhu2vLcesoECybB3km4K3fEnA-cNTYihcVx5CAHI9DqTrhA9h3E2AXSPDreQb-aJaBVDQN08FxglwGXEjGRUQXJ5F-O10ElrxVWivTpflBm2gqXxvOziPrQxX/s1600-h/pic9.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 152px; HEIGHT: 309px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369978368017629346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfW1UCm4CIgEucpoeUL5Dhu2vLcesoECybB3km4K3fEnA-cNTYihcVx5CAHI9DqTrhA9h3E2AXSPDreQb-aJaBVDQN08FxglwGXEjGRUQXJ5F-O10ElrxVWivTpflBm2gqXxvOziPrQxX/s320/pic9.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwCZOIptuf_bzYZSfrZw-qRHilfx-I-Cbe1pxzOsZ10g529IIMH_wbB2jZVYyE9obe8BqLMcabB2JPHkVTAID2i67NL0zCqISx7e2tMC4eWZaNb9cx_sVcNcqJBtAeJjZQlLSzrimkZT3/s1600-h/pic7.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 102px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369978358569757794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwCZOIptuf_bzYZSfrZw-qRHilfx-I-Cbe1pxzOsZ10g529IIMH_wbB2jZVYyE9obe8BqLMcabB2JPHkVTAID2i67NL0zCqISx7e2tMC4eWZaNb9cx_sVcNcqJBtAeJjZQlLSzrimkZT3/s320/pic7.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXQ5qyuXE0W0Z0axsbdHZsogOL8gCouS2i5K_JB9hkv1LGQKS2OJn8L9b3te09jarKr3TVcO6eitPPaGzJNuVcYi0C7pDmjmT8PeUqFT_HzIN0IXUxAMMNvC2R0lczvkknd-z1yh2FpG_/s1600-h/pic3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 237px; HEIGHT: 318px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369978349241311506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXQ5qyuXE0W0Z0axsbdHZsogOL8gCouS2i5K_JB9hkv1LGQKS2OJn8L9b3te09jarKr3TVcO6eitPPaGzJNuVcYi0C7pDmjmT8PeUqFT_HzIN0IXUxAMMNvC2R0lczvkknd-z1yh2FpG_/s320/pic3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9ABkDG3U4dg4SXz3OlfhHHI_oJajROASaRkGj-tueZ5QsjvDm5phE-xsgbnPSk8TDaIsYldn43nDeevUniazsv3yoKTS8C82ShWdmL2liSHrNj3KI1GcagExXLmU5AE-t8o31d_kQHKi/s1600-h/pic2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 204px; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369978336411952162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9ABkDG3U4dg4SXz3OlfhHHI_oJajROASaRkGj-tueZ5QsjvDm5phE-xsgbnPSk8TDaIsYldn43nDeevUniazsv3yoKTS8C82ShWdmL2liSHrNj3KI1GcagExXLmU5AE-t8o31d_kQHKi/s320/pic2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TuHcbfzyGyH0x_lSSPD4I-yJIyUMmLfYXB_0ma_Hlwy5QzyPKF3o65yGdjJTmzRbgRMamAlnBk-2XqlvdKs1Z9wy491dblDEiAsuJ_Xbmubw97cnzD-CQRysLr0LXgaESK2hH7g3HGyb/s1600-h/bnnc1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 256px; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369978329870200930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TuHcbfzyGyH0x_lSSPD4I-yJIyUMmLfYXB_0ma_Hlwy5QzyPKF3o65yGdjJTmzRbgRMamAlnBk-2XqlvdKs1Z9wy491dblDEiAsuJ_Xbmubw97cnzD-CQRysLr0LXgaESK2hH7g3HGyb/s320/bnnc1.jpg" /></a><br /><div> </div><div>Since I began my hair jounrney, my hair has become shinier, stronger, thicker, longer and much healthier overall. More updates to come in DEC.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-79163914861106856562009-08-13T17:27:00.000-07:002009-08-14T18:07:42.517-07:00LAAATEE I know: A look back on the befores...10th GRADE!! HAIR-CARE IGNORANT BUT YOU COULDNT TELL ME NOTHING!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3pzNc2uL8ngOEIFwx8P7UE1h_SzqOIoUV8u6SsRyFKENGbZZUnJdVgF_LWmLR3oOc43R6DukWayfA_qUP0WWZQEXReMOsRKyYquoqpFisuoqZCxOnVabVprv87Ndig-fGyPV7Znx9JDJ/s1600-h/pic12.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 232px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369990482186122834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3pzNc2uL8ngOEIFwx8P7UE1h_SzqOIoUV8u6SsRyFKENGbZZUnJdVgF_LWmLR3oOc43R6DukWayfA_qUP0WWZQEXReMOsRKyYquoqpFisuoqZCxOnVabVprv87Ndig-fGyPV7Znx9JDJ/s320/pic12.jpg" /></a><br /><br />THE BIRTH OF HEAT-STYLED NATURALS (JAN 2009)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf9f7mrXHg-B2gn8lhQjX9N8AGytHtvO_vw3FpmWEasf9S0smu5qrvOOXMdOVaCwiITSv1ljV5JPmYmnoakKrakTiZUd9fhRG4TB9uPplSv8GzGzh-DWuN_GaHWJPtoNL51cI420DMvBe/s1600-h/pic16.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 207px; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369987922037623394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf9f7mrXHg-B2gn8lhQjX9N8AGytHtvO_vw3FpmWEasf9S0smu5qrvOOXMdOVaCwiITSv1ljV5JPmYmnoakKrakTiZUd9fhRG4TB9uPplSv8GzGzh-DWuN_GaHWJPtoNL51cI420DMvBe/s320/pic16.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />BANANA CLIP MARCH 2009<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91n6hmSysGLNtG_K5-kBSO8OcLG81kPs6nh2CES-0mFXUMtcIdeLAiEpK5NB6_OiB0SoqYNi8v9mvhphCzOuxNU8VK1AFIOR0sRzWHknbop9Yt5DTmk1LgRF-hUKn5PWIlTVmL96Xnn2i/s1600-h/pic15.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 218px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369987917373718162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91n6hmSysGLNtG_K5-kBSO8OcLG81kPs6nh2CES-0mFXUMtcIdeLAiEpK5NB6_OiB0SoqYNi8v9mvhphCzOuxNU8VK1AFIOR0sRzWHknbop9Yt5DTmk1LgRF-hUKn5PWIlTVmL96Xnn2i/s320/pic15.jpg" /></a><br />MARCH 2009 (hit APL)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCykKQJZGGYoSJ-PjbDnKsV-EKka6NN-ZUhGU_pN5QTGFKEkHDI7s4M4skaZHwZxhWUbBHKcT8yodO-rn4Cs7ATUd96arm-WWHlBe_1gB1tR4sDcEuloxcBVnNJP_7uf-YIj-R4glONZA/s1600-h/pic14.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 212px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369987907860451218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCykKQJZGGYoSJ-PjbDnKsV-EKka6NN-ZUhGU_pN5QTGFKEkHDI7s4M4skaZHwZxhWUbBHKcT8yodO-rn4Cs7ATUd96arm-WWHlBe_1gB1tR4sDcEuloxcBVnNJP_7uf-YIj-R4glONZA/s320/pic14.jpg" /></a><br /><br />MY HAIR JOURNAL (started in Sept 2008)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Z7PcIWOBJPp7tcIn4ByLj2wxYca9Es10lM9khp8TqKiETtYuK-MhVL8XadCcDMH1wGzwWHaK1z0JSs64qD0FLZ8bAJ-ofqxG3SxHjfFlva3a77kkGgqPv8gKqBvWryjl9UAKk65p-2km/s1600-h/jrnl.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 298px; HEIGHT: 293px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369987905945946386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Z7PcIWOBJPp7tcIn4ByLj2wxYca9Es10lM9khp8TqKiETtYuK-MhVL8XadCcDMH1wGzwWHaK1z0JSs64qD0FLZ8bAJ-ofqxG3SxHjfFlva3a77kkGgqPv8gKqBvWryjl9UAKk65p-2km/s320/jrnl.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I wish I had better starting pics but ...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-86201225482744234152009-05-30T00:27:00.000-07:002009-05-30T01:07:54.824-07:00I Spy Some Healthy Hair Care.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsetN7ZBZi-A5R4_J8UmZCQ8cEBtvktP-oD3zIg7bNk8lONxu6tMF3yAahhDcn05Mdx-JB0MX_beKhIiAQ_RN3VkdP23troBLJ1Ln7kFY2dlJ3YASU3MQ2Pv4BTXEccJu5CyGrH2H0o-U/s1600-h/riri666.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsetN7ZBZi-A5R4_J8UmZCQ8cEBtvktP-oD3zIg7bNk8lONxu6tMF3yAahhDcn05Mdx-JB0MX_beKhIiAQ_RN3VkdP23troBLJ1Ln7kFY2dlJ3YASU3MQ2Pv4BTXEccJu5CyGrH2H0o-U/s200/riri666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341516177223646274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Ain't love grand?- You know the love between a black woman and her head tie.<br /></div><br />While ignoring the criminal beside her, I noticed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">RiRi's</span> strategically placed scarf. The positioning indicates special attention to the hairline. I did wonder how she managed to keep her edges intact with that high maintenance hair of hers. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ursela</span> sure doesn't travel around with her and daily heat would be disastrous. So the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">secret is</span> in the scarf ladies. I wonder <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">what the</span> bedding fabric is because her ends... lemme stop! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lol</span>.<br /><br />Thumbs up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">RiRi</span> for some healthy hair care, hopefully some healthy relationships will follow?<br /><br />Do you guys cover your entire forehead with your head tie? I couldnt do it. My skin would breakout from the oil.Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-90890820611195910862009-05-25T12:48:00.000-07:002009-05-26T16:21:55.767-07:00Product Review: Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNCGxHwiffj8Ube5U2OOb7m_l2d83gqm24C1mgvnvcqkHMgsdgfmWzj1nkYXDLh2B8PFPpHrRmQ9DmY39r-oa1I7S2od1Is97Qv6DI9D0-wTB8x8iAARVNiAyUCBNwhP1JCo6JWTmYMxN/s1600-h/SmoothDown_ButterTreat.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNCGxHwiffj8Ube5U2OOb7m_l2d83gqm24C1mgvnvcqkHMgsdgfmWzj1nkYXDLh2B8PFPpHrRmQ9DmY39r-oa1I7S2od1Is97Qv6DI9D0-wTB8x8iAARVNiAyUCBNwhP1JCo6JWTmYMxN/s200/SmoothDown_ButterTreat.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339852281097009874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat (not to be confused with Redken Smooth Down).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > The promise:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> > Ultra-rich, cream treatment> Provides intense, deep moisturization> Delivers super, long-lasting conditioning, nourishment and control> Leaves hair streamlined, manageable and shiny.</span><div style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;" class="wysiwyg-output"> </div> <h2 style="font-family: arial;" class="sIFR-replaced"><object style="font-style: italic;" class="sIFR-flash" data="/javascripts/sifr.tradegothic.swf" name="sIFR_callback_3" id="sIFR_callback_3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="380" height="21"><param value="content=KEY%2520INGREDIENTS%253A&antialiastype=&width=380&height=18&renderheight=18&fitexactly=false&tunewidth=0&tuneheight=-5&offsetleft=&offsettop=&thickness=&sharpness=&kerning=&gridfittype=pixel&flashfilters=&opacity=100&blendmode=&size=18&css=.sIFR-root%257Bcolor%253A%2523000000%253B%257D&selectable=true&fixhover=false&preventwrap=false&forcesingleline=false&link=&target=&events=false&cursor=default&version=beta2" name="flashvars"><param value="" name="wmode"><param value="#FFFFFF" name="bgcolor"><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"><param value="best" name="quality"></object><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> My experience: </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" >After leaving this treatment on for a couple of hours without heat while I cleaned, my hair was very soft after rinsing. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I didn't think it would be because the consistency of the conditioner isn't buttery at all. It's very light in comparison to the moisturizing conditioners that I normally use. My hair was also much easier to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">detangle</span> and I lost less hair than I usually would on wash day. I would say this product delivers on it's promises without the use of the exaggerated adjectives like "ultra-rich", "intense" and "super, long-lasting". </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></h2><span style="font-family:arial;">I haven't invested in the normal retail size. The sample is $4 at </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-family:arial;">Ulta</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. I cant be certain whether my positive experience with this product is due solely to it's efficacy because I also </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-family:arial;">cowashed</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> on that day rather than my normal shampooing. So... </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-family:arial;">Idk</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. If you've tried it, I'd love to know </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >your </span><span style="font-family:arial;">experience.</span>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-17317740142494235622009-05-25T11:28:00.000-07:002009-05-25T12:23:30.696-07:00Give Good Face<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzZC3l8fwF1OHJUdNKDPyExejvG9cyaZzJD85ZmO75TziKqH_5AujLnBTChHmcP1SOos6INNCzez6CwmjE70ui_PqwzxRTAabh2atssKKwg7jwZQL8Q5oP9dllCdsAws12gsu3i6HfxHd/s1600-h/ggf3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzZC3l8fwF1OHJUdNKDPyExejvG9cyaZzJD85ZmO75TziKqH_5AujLnBTChHmcP1SOos6INNCzez6CwmjE70ui_PqwzxRTAabh2atssKKwg7jwZQL8Q5oP9dllCdsAws12gsu3i6HfxHd/s200/ggf3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339841203387215410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">We spend so much time, money and effort on our hair, but it's also important to invest in the preservation and beauty of our skin. Some of the many things we do for our hair (products, vitamins etc.) can inadvertently effect the health of the skin. So finding the right products and regimen for our skin is just as necessary.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My version of skin care was soap and water, twice daily, for a very long time. After watching some videos from one of my favorite youtubers, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/michellephan?blend=1&ob=4">RiceBunny</a> and learning that she started using anti-wrinkle cream at<span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >8</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">-I had to know more. Now, I'm learning more about <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> skin, moisturizing, DIY facials, diet and I'm starting to see a difference. (Link to skin typing </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;" href="http://shop.camelliapurebeauty.com/whats-my-skin-type_ep_38-1.html">here</a><span style="font-family:arial;">)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >This wonderful article from cnn.com is a great starting point:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Overwashing, overapplying, and product overkill won't improve your skin. Rein in your regimen to get real results. </span></span><div class="EC_cnnStoryPhotoBox" style="font-family:arial;"> <div class="EC_cnnImgChngr" id="EC_cnnImgChngr"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="width: 195px; height: 107px;" alt="Want beautiful skin like model Megan Gale? Don't overdo it, experts say." src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/LIVING/personal/12/04/rs.go.easy.on.skin/art.megan.gale.gi.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div class="EC_cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox"> <div class="EC_cnn3pxTB9pxLRPad"> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Want beautiful skin like model Megan Gale? Don't overdo it, experts say.</span></p></div></div> <div class="EC_cnnWireBoxFooter"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img alt="" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/base_skins/baseplate/corner_wire_BL.gif" width="4" height="4" /></span> </div></div></div> <p style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Cleansing and exfoliating</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">You don't need to wash or scrub as often -- or as vigorously -- as you may think. "Many women go overboard here, figuring it will make their skin look better if they do both more frequently," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann. "But that only damages the skin's natural barrier and creates dryness and irritation."</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Combination skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>How often:</b> Wash your face twice a day, and gently exfoliate once or twice a week; this is enough to keep skin balanced and encourage cell turnover, according to experts.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>What to look for:</b> A mild cleanser that isn't too rich or too drying, says Mary Lupo, a dermatologist in New Orleans, Louisiana. Use an exfoliant that contains gentle particles or acids to remove dead cells without abrading your skin.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Where to find it</b>: Cleanser -- Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash, $6 at drugstores. Exfoliant -- St. Ives Elements Microdermabrasion Scrub, $7 at drugstores.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Dry skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>How often:</b> Cleanse skin at night, when it's dirtiest. Rinse with cool water in the morning to help maintain natural oils. If skin is flaky, exfoliate once a week, says Lisa Donofrio, a professor of dermatology at Yale University.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>What to look for:</b> A cleansing oil or creamy wash that has moisturizing ingredients, such as glycerin. If you have sensitive skin to boot, avoid products that contain fragrances or alcohol, which can irritate.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Where to find it:</b> Cleanser -- Laura Mercier Purifying Oil, $40, www.sephora.com; or CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, $11.50 at drugstores. Exfoliant -- Your safest bet is to use a wet washcloth.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Oily/acne-prone skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>How often:</b> Lather up two to three times a day (as needed) but never more; overwashing kicks oil glands into overproduction. Exfoliate once or twice a week, but skip this if you have acne; the friction can make it worse.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>What to look for:</b> An oil-free, non-comedogenic foaming cleanser that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to prevent breakouts. The scrub should contain mild acids to keep the pores open and clean.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Where to find it</b>: Cleanser -- Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser, $7 at drugstores. Exfoliant -- Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub, $6 at drugstores.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Sensitive skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>How often:</b> Wash once a day if your skin is irritated by nearly everything or if you have eczema or psoriasis; twice a day if your skin is dirty. Forget about exfoliating, as it's too abrasive for your skin type.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>What to look for:</b> Hypoallergenic and fragrance- and soap-free cleansers. Calming ingredients, like green tea, chamomile, feverfew, and aloe, are a bonus. As a general rule, the fewer ingredients in a product, the better.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Where to find it:</b> Cleanser -- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser ($19.50, www.laroche-posay.com). Apply with your fingers. "Think of the way you'd touch a newborn," says Barbara Reed, a Denver, Colorado, dermatologist.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Portion control</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">• Use a quarter-size amount of cleanser on most skin types.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">• A dime-size dollop of scrub will do.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">• A pea-size dab of cleanser is plenty for sensitive skin. <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1697670,00.html?xid=cnnskin4?cnn=yes" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 66, 118);">Real Simple: Best facial cleansers</span></strong></a></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Moisturizing and protecting</strong></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">No matter what your skin type, moisture is important. "If your skin isn't hydrated, it can't protect itself from the free radicals that cause damage, discoloration, and wrinkles," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann. </span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Year-round daily sun protection is also a must. Fortunately there are moisturizers with SPF available for every complexion.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Combination skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>How often:</b> Each morning, apply moisturizer with SPF after cleansing your skin. Reapply if you're spending more than 30 minutes outside, as sun-screens break down in sunlight over time.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>What to look for:</b> A medium-weight lotion with skin-protective antioxidants, such as green tea, coenzyme Q10, and vitamin C, and broad-spectrum sun protection with an SPF of 15 or higher.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Where to find it:</b> L'Oréal Paris Revitalift UV Daily Moisturizing Cream with Mexoryl SX SPF 15, $22 at drugstores; or Clinique Super-defense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer Dry Combination, $43, www.clinique.com.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Dry skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>How often</b>: To help seal in water, apply moisturizer with SPF once a day, right after cleansing, while your skin is still damp. Reapply at midday if your skin begins to feel tight, and use a cream at night.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>What to look for</b>: A rich cream that contains antioxidants, plus hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides. "Hyaluronic acid and glycerin bind in moisture, and ceramides prevent water loss from the skin," says Donofrio.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Where to find it:</b> Dove Pro Age Day Moisturizer SPF 15, $14 at drugstores; or Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, $10.50 at drugstores.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Oily/acne-prone skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>How often:</b> Moisturize every morning. Oily skin needs the right type of moisture and lightweight, non-comedogenic sun protection. Reapply as needed, since blotting away shine can remove sunscreen.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>What to look for:</b> An oil-free, featherweight lotion, serum, or gel with antioxidants. If you're acne-prone, avoid products with cocoa butter, cinnamon, or coconut oil, as they can trigger breakouts, says Baumann.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Where to find it:</b> DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew SPF 15, $38, www.ddfskincare.com; or Clean & Clear Soft Oil-Free Day Moisturizer SPF 15, $8.50 at drugstores.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Sensitive skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>How often:</b> In the morning, apply moisturizer to skin that has been dabbed dry. Ingredients penetrate wet skin more deeply, which is often a good thing, but this can irritate sensitive skin.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>What to look for</b>: Fragrance-free lotions or creams that contain anti-inflammatories, such as chamomile, green tea, feverfew, and caffeine. Avoid lipoic acid, as it can be irritating.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Where to find it:</b> Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF 15, $14 at drugstores; or Dermalogica Super Sensitive Faceblock SPF 30, $45, www.dermalogica.com for locations.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Portion control</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Use a nickel-to quarter-size amount of moisturizer with SPF for face coverage. <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1145747,00.html?xid=cnnskin5?cnn=yes" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 66, 118);">Real Simple: Seventeen affordable moisturizers</span></strong></a></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Treating and troubleshooting</strong></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Nighttime is best for targeting fine lines, blemishes, and discoloration. That's when the skin repairs itself, and the sun isn't around to degrade the active ingredients in the treatments. Careful and consistent use of effective products (most also provide moisture) will gradually yield great results.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Combination skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To keep it smooth:</b> Four nights a week, use a cream with retinol, a potent, tried-and-true wrinkle reducer. Try: Philosophy Help Me Retinol Night Treatment, $45, www.philosophy.com.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To clear it up:</b> Use a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide or 2 percent salicylic acid gel nightly. Try: B. Kamins Medicated Acne Gel 5, $26, www.bkamins.com; or Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Gel, $8 at drugstores.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To even tone:</b> Retinol evens tone, but for darker spots, at night use a formula that also has skin-lightening licorice, kojic acid, soy, or vitamin C. Try: RoC Multi-Correxion Night Treatment, $25 at drugstores.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Dry skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To keep it smooth:</b> As dry skin can be sensitive, apply gentle retinols every other night with a moisturizer. Try: Avène Rétrinal Cream .05, $56, www.skincarerx.com. Other nights, just moisturize.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To clear it up:</b> Heal blemishes using a moisturizing 2 percent salicylic acid treatment or a sulfur-based salve once or twice a week. Try: AcneWorx Gentle Moisturizing Clear Acne Treatment Gel, $20, www.amazon.com.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To even tone:</b> Slather on a rich cream that contains skin-brightening ingredients, like coffeeberry extract, each night. Try: RevaléSkin Night Cream, $99, www.skincarerx.com.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Oily/acne-prone skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To keep it smooth:</b> Nightly use of a retinol gel or serum softens fine lines (skip it on nights you treat blemishes, as below). Try: Replenix Retinol Plus Smoothing Serum 3X, $56, www.skincarerx.com.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To clear it up:</b> Oily skin can take a 5 or 10 percent benzoyl peroxide gel twice a day, says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a dermatologist in Danville, California. Try: Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10, $5 at drugstores.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To even tone:</b> Each night smooth a thin layer of a lightweight vitamin C serum over your face to gradually lighten any discoloration. Try: Avon Anew Alternative Clearly C 10% Vitamin C Serum, $20, www.avon.com.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Sensitive skin</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To keep it smooth:</b> Every third night, apply a mild retinol (see dry skin). Or use peptides nightly on lines. Try: Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Moisturizing Treatment, $18 at drugstores.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To clear it up:</b> Treat blemishes with a 2 percent salicylic acid treatment and follow with moisturizer. Try: Exuviance Blemish Treatment Gel, $16, www.exuviance.com. Avoid benzoyl peroxide, which can be irritating.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>To even tone:</b> Consider a nightly application of a lotion with a gentle lightener, like a niacin derivative or vitamin C. Try: NIA 24 Intensive Recovery Complex, $110, www.skincarerx.com.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Portion control</b></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">• A pea-size amount of a retinol cream is adequate.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">• A dime-size dollop of a skin brightener or moisturizer will do the trick.</span></p> <p class="EC_cnnInline" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">• A sunflower seed--size dot of an acne salve is all your spots require. </span></p>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-32871540852583022972009-05-21T19:05:00.000-07:002009-05-21T19:24:32.668-07:00Remember her?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhE2CTUDmLO0lL-u9ra7Px8I55-J42p0E5PEvnUkxYXX2Ufs5yjw4GD6kWlbShyphenhyphenH_pBnzXr7MCF4jr9qyTHS2QzaanM0tvC0MFVicJNUKD42lGVr5RGgPtI7FKSQQIqjOVRwmd3hU662Z/s1600-h/Kim-Wayans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhE2CTUDmLO0lL-u9ra7Px8I55-J42p0E5PEvnUkxYXX2Ufs5yjw4GD6kWlbShyphenhyphenH_pBnzXr7MCF4jr9qyTHS2QzaanM0tvC0MFVicJNUKD42lGVr5RGgPtI7FKSQQIqjOVRwmd3hU662Z/s200/Kim-Wayans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338467580479959362" border="0" /></a>Kim Wayans?!? I was <span style="font-style: italic;">shocked</span> to say the least. Her hair looks fab, she looks fab. Why has she been ghost all these years though?Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-24512206785291300352009-05-14T17:12:00.000-07:002009-05-14T17:36:34.737-07:00Celebrity Corn-Rows<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEBqLWsRjB_NByGNtMDTaXeVXj3Tc3aVZHsXVJW_FzpO0SV8LYMAL-kYYPBZyqfqKI9g9LN1ZhzjIkM1HzoEcS8YesQiXP092ZmGf9C0dcHAqKHKxKHYuVr5Jf560V5L9FKT7ocoCgScl/s1600-h/CR2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEBqLWsRjB_NByGNtMDTaXeVXj3Tc3aVZHsXVJW_FzpO0SV8LYMAL-kYYPBZyqfqKI9g9LN1ZhzjIkM1HzoEcS8YesQiXP092ZmGf9C0dcHAqKHKxKHYuVr5Jf560V5L9FKT7ocoCgScl/s200/CR2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335841415899849954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVtecnz5lP2wNKfB-HcrEimiNpBFId8WoGMvPY-ceWB4aouJJK9g-ShTzw9ENQIUf1iTghl6HK4bn2hjC_X_bUJdHNbhUMp78tZsuqY6oW-1_ATWDmBudLnN90t8Bs4ETBygNFqlqrlZ9/s1600-h/CR1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVtecnz5lP2wNKfB-HcrEimiNpBFId8WoGMvPY-ceWB4aouJJK9g-ShTzw9ENQIUf1iTghl6HK4bn2hjC_X_bUJdHNbhUMp78tZsuqY6oW-1_ATWDmBudLnN90t8Bs4ETBygNFqlqrlZ9/s200/CR1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335841415936673938" border="0" /></a>Is this the unofficial "I actually have hair" style for the usually wigged up celebs these days? OK, gelled up corn-rows it is!<br />Cute.Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-43918926897130598682009-05-12T20:35:00.000-07:002009-05-13T06:28:26.095-07:0041 days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOgolUYNoV-ot_TJfoYx4QmxxZenn2RtH4wJzEj-_7gBNjdgNGPV8NPMkda3LxLhwO7U1lIyBMRwjVxfdnlQX864A7vvRCvewshrkNyikKd8h1bLqGQOCtzyPEdG8PNmgcVQPKLosXJew/s1600-h/hrbl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335147193657903650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOgolUYNoV-ot_TJfoYx4QmxxZenn2RtH4wJzEj-_7gBNjdgNGPV8NPMkda3LxLhwO7U1lIyBMRwjVxfdnlQX864A7vvRCvewshrkNyikKd8h1bLqGQOCtzyPEdG8PNmgcVQPKLosXJew/s200/hrbl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is a fist full of hair next to my mouse. It's the result of 41 days of braids.<br />As I was taking the braids out, I glided down my hair with my hands to remove shed hair. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pre</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pood</span> with oil overnight, mixed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Nexxus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Therappe</span> with Suave conditioner and water and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">shampood</span> in sections. Then I added about half a tablespoon of baking soda to a large glass of water and poured that over my hair, waited a minute, then rinsed. Then, I did an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ACV</span> rinse similarly. I followed with a hard protein treatment using Nexus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Emergencee</span> for 10 minutes. After that, I mixed the Aura conditioner with some coconut oil and honey and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">DCed</span> for half an hour. Next, I applied <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Lustrasilk</span> and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">GVP</span> version of Paul Mitchell The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Detangler</span> over my hair, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">detangled</span> with a wide tooth comb and rinsed.<br /><br />I'm now rocking a 3/4 wig and I'll post pics soon. I'm due for a trim because it's been over 4 months since scissors have touched my hair. I haven't encountered any splits, my hair has basically been in protective styles 98% of the time, even when straight. But I have to confess that I haven't exactly been consistent with the daily moisturizing and sealing. It's so easy to get lazy when your in a protective style...<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">LaterZ.</span>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-33856495988599405602009-05-10T14:42:00.001-07:002009-05-10T14:58:02.379-07:00Heat-Styled Natural: Alicia Keys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq9-ZZlPtX9iZVTHZLYpGLvB6SnOBwnzNwKtfju3S6u5EyANjMVXWU5gzR4opx-0oAJGyl5-Ekaz0kVFYTTHZKVGgqb8QfLGRbSa-qb_NpMI4aSGZVBj81vMyXMELqqbnDfckkwHDK7LG/s1600-h/Akeys2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq9-ZZlPtX9iZVTHZLYpGLvB6SnOBwnzNwKtfju3S6u5EyANjMVXWU5gzR4opx-0oAJGyl5-Ekaz0kVFYTTHZKVGgqb8QfLGRbSa-qb_NpMI4aSGZVBj81vMyXMELqqbnDfckkwHDK7LG/s200/Akeys2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334314122116438226" border="0" /></a>Just when you thought straight hair went into hiding...<br />Alicia Keys broke out the flat-iron and sported a sleek, split down the middle, heat-styled hair do for the White House Correspondents Dinner.<br /><br />The middle part never did quite fit me. I always opt for a slated part at the side.<br /><br />If you didn't get to see the Prez's speech, you can check it out <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0GwZFAV1Lw">here</a>. It was surprisingly funny unlike some of the usual cornball jokes that get recycled in Washington DC.Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-41801499012663874382009-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:002009-05-07T17:05:29.699-07:00Joy Bryant's Summer Hair Tip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-kZ-NnKR0uRQ_R-sIYBtsseeOZtbJy_VEOjJ-y_sO28plQcvi7gQ5qy-IPz2XFkUD8MsVRIcKQBcMjat0h2s_Rku_9CyysCnIT8XxCv5ORlsPFEDbOeZZODwQC9pXKVwKbmGkPOvLCIb/s1600-h/JoyBryant1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-kZ-NnKR0uRQ_R-sIYBtsseeOZtbJy_VEOjJ-y_sO28plQcvi7gQ5qy-IPz2XFkUD8MsVRIcKQBcMjat0h2s_Rku_9CyysCnIT8XxCv5ORlsPFEDbOeZZODwQC9pXKVwKbmGkPOvLCIb/s200/JoyBryant1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332500871329553730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguE_kJzK3NfhVuWSl3MdX-jc6OfKhuyFM1QrGTgxol1vhDW8dTFn8TPc8yqqx-NNRx_2DNJj_AT22wVizT6LUrQdcPKETnjBmeoCMpV9AE3gI6-yG_HErZI-98CrvDsmVRcrFsGEtyye9U/s1600-h/JBwg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguE_kJzK3NfhVuWSl3MdX-jc6OfKhuyFM1QrGTgxol1vhDW8dTFn8TPc8yqqx-NNRx_2DNJj_AT22wVizT6LUrQdcPKETnjBmeoCMpV9AE3gI6-yG_HErZI-98CrvDsmVRcrFsGEtyye9U/s200/JBwg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332505507465729650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphKvq9hRKZGTyz7X6EK6mqlOwd-tYOUVc8CpC4h9oBCGXT7rZ21JG481xZtA4MzBSX_xqnEFUPXpwrgjH25DVioil5H0SXC5HhY-IbTO4RgdqGJD1W9xwTqKuDrAY9RyYeOXqsQsX0Q1E/s1600-h/JBpp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphKvq9hRKZGTyz7X6EK6mqlOwd-tYOUVc8CpC4h9oBCGXT7rZ21JG481xZtA4MzBSX_xqnEFUPXpwrgjH25DVioil5H0SXC5HhY-IbTO4RgdqGJD1W9xwTqKuDrAY9RyYeOXqsQsX0Q1E/s200/JBpp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332505506348978114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgg1_96D-2HgxsegQdDszBNaqJEQ5ApaCJ-VqvxIYEh7__hJidMDmes3ljjzPUuYHHdTsTYausLe7Rnx7atgPJ3mgaVrTkFmR58A7DX1CsVCvdMB3qPl_2MYDuyXb8zWG-7s8WLKMLrmU/s1600-h/JBhr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgg1_96D-2HgxsegQdDszBNaqJEQ5ApaCJ-VqvxIYEh7__hJidMDmes3ljjzPUuYHHdTsTYausLe7Rnx7atgPJ3mgaVrTkFmR58A7DX1CsVCvdMB3qPl_2MYDuyXb8zWG-7s8WLKMLrmU/s200/JBhr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332505508149463170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHtRBpU51nliOr-J8iLNNaWbJZGwyr21fy5d5aqqIE4094K4rj7e3nIuTG1mTFcgaaxw9cD128rWMrsD_PC1LTblKvvWf8izxmAGhWHbVL2apkBUBuSZz5mvDJ-AA-CEtWb9utLcMH3C5/s1600-h/JoyBryant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHtRBpU51nliOr-J8iLNNaWbJZGwyr21fy5d5aqqIE4094K4rj7e3nIuTG1mTFcgaaxw9cD128rWMrsD_PC1LTblKvvWf8izxmAGhWHbVL2apkBUBuSZz5mvDJ-AA-CEtWb9utLcMH3C5/s200/JoyBryant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332500876690548530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/07/09/quick-beauty-tips-with-joy-bryant/">From her Q&A with AOL Black Voices</a><br /><strong>Q: Can you share some of your summer hair care secrets? </strong><br />A: "I don't really have any hair secrets. I just think that some sort of pomade should always be handy." There are a variety of great pomades for our hair, including </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Kizzy "Stay-Put" hair pomade</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> by Carol's Daughter. You can use this awesome product to give your hair moisture and shine.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I've seen Joy in wigs, weaves & phony ponies, but I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">pretty </span>sure she's natural. Several people have said her hair always looks a mess and some say it's simple, fresh and natural.</span> You be the judge.Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-7904462522918421882009-05-06T00:00:00.000-07:002009-05-06T16:30:26.604-07:00Cheaper Alternative: Aura Rosemary Mint<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7jb-AuM1eYyj6XrHZP-riwSoEEG4dCMYboADTMznbz3A9nW3gh0isUmhRnvkD6IhyRuqzjQv5hc8BaMMbjvhv9lf6_PxIApPCAnLFFXlSCrmlJANTMBP8epWJ1ifOcw_JMEBm4Uwp8nf/s1600-h/Auracndt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7jb-AuM1eYyj6XrHZP-riwSoEEG4dCMYboADTMznbz3A9nW3gh0isUmhRnvkD6IhyRuqzjQv5hc8BaMMbjvhv9lf6_PxIApPCAnLFFXlSCrmlJANTMBP8epWJ1ifOcw_JMEBm4Uwp8nf/s200/Auracndt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332513998538896290" border="0" /></a>The Aura Rosemary Mint line can be found in Sally's where the generic value products are located. It is supposed to be comparable to Aveda Damage Remedy.<br /><br />Both lines tout Jojoba oil as a prominent ingredient. Aura is only 5.99 for 13. oz., but I got it on sale for 4.99. Aveda DR is about $24 for 8.5 oz. <span style="font-style: italic;">No</span> Aveda. <span style="font-style: italic;">Hell</span> no.<br /><br />I like the smell and the tingling sensation from Aura. I can't give a full review yet because I've only used it while in braids. So look out for that.Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-11509536386773106602009-05-05T16:24:00.000-07:002009-05-05T16:27:16.242-07:00Oprah's Ear-Tuck<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pe3Uth-9m_GGPGTq1-q_BRrPF3lYTfxRV-atTg01owMBr__2r9epDsWHUv3q1x9glNI5Iaifdq33EJr4WRnSu4AnyRwyTyrGyzSysSyrvX9E3skMahg_v9TR1MaY4GDfPiN-1f73NRO8/s1600-h/elizabeth_edwards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pe3Uth-9m_GGPGTq1-q_BRrPF3lYTfxRV-atTg01owMBr__2r9epDsWHUv3q1x9glNI5Iaifdq33EJr4WRnSu4AnyRwyTyrGyzSysSyrvX9E3skMahg_v9TR1MaY4GDfPiN-1f73NRO8/s200/elizabeth_edwards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332484918633535122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >*Ok, so this is just an excuse to post another pic of Lady O's fab hair*</span><br /></div>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-30709236443121553542009-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:002009-05-16T17:51:16.509-07:00I Was Blind, But Now I See.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLooj-Y9m8NuBaPlr69zP8ukmdrzoVEFgGZ1mqUZqBFnu9yPhPhTPX8gqp4YuzhzpDMnVcW6Rv-bFEavqXaV-4bcBLVvU6ynv4NJwjl8TCp8taE2XA5de17gnuZKrbPJSe38mbkfGNmKA/s1600-h/wmnthkn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLooj-Y9m8NuBaPlr69zP8ukmdrzoVEFgGZ1mqUZqBFnu9yPhPhTPX8gqp4YuzhzpDMnVcW6Rv-bFEavqXaV-4bcBLVvU6ynv4NJwjl8TCp8taE2XA5de17gnuZKrbPJSe38mbkfGNmKA/s200/wmnthkn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330252900381375874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">How many of us don't think twice about where the money we spend on our hair supplies ends up? Probably most.</span><br /><div face="arial"> </div><br /><div face="arial">In an article about "<a href="http://clutchmagonline.com/beauty/taking-back-the-black-hair-care-industry/#1">Taking Back the Black Hair Care Industry</a>", Mika Pettigrew talks candidly about our responsibility, as consumers , for letting the now Korean dominated black hair care industry slip through our hands. She writes:</div><br /><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><br /><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"<strong>In 2004, sales of black hair care products exceeded $1.7 billion</strong>, as reported by Mintel International Group, a consumer research company. This figure does not include the synthetic and human hair additions that have gained tremendous popularity in recent years... <strong>Korean immigrants “get it” and have gotten it for decades, and now have almost complete control of the industry in 2007.</strong> They are sizing us up, assessing our needs, crafting and passing out the products. <strong>We, in turn, loyally tithe our dollars to strengthen their communities.</strong> It is time to consider the roll we play in the crisis within the Black hair care industry, by examining the choices we are making as it relates to us individually, the Black hair care industry specifically, as well as strengthening our communities and preserving our culture in general."</span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><br /><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">---When I think about that money going towards the employment of <em>their </em>family, to educate <em>their</em> children and to strengthen<em> their</em> communities<span style="font-size:130%;"> it makes me angry</span>-not at them, but at us (including myself) for so blindly spending our hard earned dollars and at the few black-owned beauty supply store owners who I've come into contact with whose service and product selection were less than stellar. You know, the communities where these stores are prevalent sure could use that money. African-Americans can<em> surely</em> benefit from controlling the black hair care industry. Mika continues:</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"In the early 1900s, Black-Americans controlled the industry with the likes of Madam C.J. Walker, a manufacture and distributor of Black hair care products, and Anthony Overton, a manufacturer of Black beauty aids as well as a magazine publisher and president of a Black-owned bank...The period between the Great Depression and the civil rights movement was vital, as the industry proved its resilience to economic and social turmoil growing out of racial discord. This was critical since <strong>Black manufacturers in the Black hair care industry managed to emerge from the Great Depression while other institutions disappeared. The industries staying power did not go unnoticed. </strong>Manufacturers of Black hair care products became the focus of public discourse during the civil rights movement.<br />The years from the civil rights movement to the early 1990s proved to be pivotal for the industry. <strong>Black manufacturers began to lose ground to large white conglomerates prior to the Korean take over, and economic barriers were reproduced for Black professionals in the industry."</strong></em></span></div><br /><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">---Now, Ive never been a racially sensitive militant conspiracy theorist but to me this sounds like something was stolen from us.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Fun Fact:</strong> Madame C. J. Walker, touted for inventing the relaxer, made history as the first female American self-made millionaire. She created thousands of well-paying jobs for African-American women, promoted giving back to African-American communities and she was a major financial contributor to many charities and black initiatives. She was the pioneer of the, then African-American controlled, black hair care industry and I'm sure she's rolling over in her grave at the state of the industry today. SMH. Hopefully, in the near future, products by black owned businesses like <span style="font-style: italic;">Oyin Handmade </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">Karen's Body Beautiful </span>will become more accessible.<br /></span></div>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-67350973777368257582009-04-27T15:21:00.000-07:002009-04-27T16:07:52.727-07:00Summer StylesAlright ladies, summer is not <span style="font-style: italic;">officially</span> here, but you can't tell by the temperature outside right now in Atlanta.<br />Even this heat-styled natural knows when to retreat. The summer months are usually the months that my flat-iron doesn't see much action. I'm going to continue with protective styling and hopefully I'll see some significant length retention. I have braids in right now and I <span style="font-style: italic;">hate </span>them. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">haven't</span> had cornrows since... years ago. I was debating the idea of getting a short cut sew-in, but I don't know how to do it myself and I have trust issues when it comes to stylists. I'll most likely opt for a half-wig. I retain a lot of length with them.<br /><br />How will you be wearing your hair? Braids? Twists? Sew-ins? Wash-n-go? Buns? Wigs? Or are you lucky enough to not have to worry about it?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpwvwqGRMiyIS17QfT9QZnFVM5Pp_uyN4Ggb7KOIcB9vGBYzlwg5HE2TtgndtX0zeV56AfWWcKfydAnMZ5X35zkYoPXqMGbPZ0fGm0T5ZsiccsUMKmaE6TlIFB2ZuYcWjW28kP3e89B5d/s1600-h/hstl7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 68px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpwvwqGRMiyIS17QfT9QZnFVM5Pp_uyN4Ggb7KOIcB9vGBYzlwg5HE2TtgndtX0zeV56AfWWcKfydAnMZ5X35zkYoPXqMGbPZ0fGm0T5ZsiccsUMKmaE6TlIFB2ZuYcWjW28kP3e89B5d/s200/hstl7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329508240825075314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvYz7HpheIw5crKQUvcM3USn2b9EeGqp2rJ0lOWz2A7oDLql8Q0prkm8otBCWyy0UlxzTSorEhf4d7sxVwUMH6_QkKeYlAkzYlQPveE1K1m9YpHtlGhjliecqOjCycVCUEi_XQOJc8E5S/s1600-h/hstl9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 69px; height: 91px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvYz7HpheIw5crKQUvcM3USn2b9EeGqp2rJ0lOWz2A7oDLql8Q0prkm8otBCWyy0UlxzTSorEhf4d7sxVwUMH6_QkKeYlAkzYlQPveE1K1m9YpHtlGhjliecqOjCycVCUEi_XQOJc8E5S/s200/hstl9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329508250401120130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqbCPge3rp4tJAMTQFkcbIUdB705x5EEaiIpSzgFBXzDsntdYQk26K08RVrNfm-Tld1T9B2UPbdKBS44rcSXM7Dw93Ih6sotxi2MTbnlVjo1D-bbqj5CHcua0WD6UsET9xmbPwXPPJpi4/s1600-h/hstl5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 66px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqbCPge3rp4tJAMTQFkcbIUdB705x5EEaiIpSzgFBXzDsntdYQk26K08RVrNfm-Tld1T9B2UPbdKBS44rcSXM7Dw93Ih6sotxi2MTbnlVjo1D-bbqj5CHcua0WD6UsET9xmbPwXPPJpi4/s200/hstl5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329507893145890194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z7_gsJ9IkXBUcmPtLV_eX29pmqMN0Tf-5IDQkfRxjPO923nT5wUJy-uBwf-bLJbnSnredRWO8bxKo-T-2n2RGn1bOz6P8w3I64iowUAr_Sm0hi-qjMQJXTzIYMJWAt2j0pPWMaKA7hkE/s1600-h/hstl6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 64px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z7_gsJ9IkXBUcmPtLV_eX29pmqMN0Tf-5IDQkfRxjPO923nT5wUJy-uBwf-bLJbnSnredRWO8bxKo-T-2n2RGn1bOz6P8w3I64iowUAr_Sm0hi-qjMQJXTzIYMJWAt2j0pPWMaKA7hkE/s200/hstl6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329508242136802562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tomgN_vHoOSoba0iJ-Y7DKda7AcYDMbjvbmnEDHn_N28vLpjzGZIhu4HFY0KSXfumYMsrOi-gCogXzrl5vaxbIUCIZkxlVOroPvIKeK-cc_0L_TBBF6xKi0-FnLnUCwOIKNYZwNADhY7/s1600-h/hstl2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 65px; height: 89px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tomgN_vHoOSoba0iJ-Y7DKda7AcYDMbjvbmnEDHn_N28vLpjzGZIhu4HFY0KSXfumYMsrOi-gCogXzrl5vaxbIUCIZkxlVOroPvIKeK-cc_0L_TBBF6xKi0-FnLnUCwOIKNYZwNADhY7/s200/hstl2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329507890471730050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69WHjPlXYwCNrZMtpCQyGVP7UDcw82lsH04fRWtp35ulNcx6b_xoNbfpNslCj23SPC022L_LblPLajxq_6B4cFU_TcVjwGkAULxiNyVb63a67DFX9953nPl0nMrcyygaCAxbmvfDXZlZJ/s1600-h/hstl3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 63px; height: 91px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69WHjPlXYwCNrZMtpCQyGVP7UDcw82lsH04fRWtp35ulNcx6b_xoNbfpNslCj23SPC022L_LblPLajxq_6B4cFU_TcVjwGkAULxiNyVb63a67DFX9953nPl0nMrcyygaCAxbmvfDXZlZJ/s200/hstl3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329507890320659794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybpiMRgB_5CopG8zh1WKhuN5LHUccIanGNK1CncVLcL7IWHewuGo4uJqP7w_2Yywgn40sXc7nXIembfrDRR2FI3ZoY67QT7MhXp036DB-p-DTbLIaofm5h3PhkLttSzvMbJTv0SYmMSWp/s1600-h/hstl1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 57px; height: 91px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybpiMRgB_5CopG8zh1WKhuN5LHUccIanGNK1CncVLcL7IWHewuGo4uJqP7w_2Yywgn40sXc7nXIembfrDRR2FI3ZoY67QT7MhXp036DB-p-DTbLIaofm5h3PhkLttSzvMbJTv0SYmMSWp/s200/hstl1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329507890970675970" border="0" /></a>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-36802614512217894152009-04-27T00:00:00.000-07:002009-04-27T15:20:45.405-07:00Conditioning tip: Got Frizz?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k_p2QHGrAWDPz69RJy4lAN63l5xTzqm3lE7X2IW4AkQEW9EMymMZIbsPHGDATuLB4BI8L76rPKEZzdWyiQnPMzVU-ii-feBgbCHyoRbQsJoUCEm8jMJ7qzNO0tGibvhiTCG_VQMZ0OOx/s1600-h/GotFrizz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 86px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k_p2QHGrAWDPz69RJy4lAN63l5xTzqm3lE7X2IW4AkQEW9EMymMZIbsPHGDATuLB4BI8L76rPKEZzdWyiQnPMzVU-ii-feBgbCHyoRbQsJoUCEm8jMJ7qzNO0tGibvhiTCG_VQMZ0OOx/s200/GotFrizz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329497551905696338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Try a Cholesterol treatment.<br /><br />Apply the treatment liberally, cover with a plastic cap and go under a heat source for 15-30 minutes then rinse thoroughly.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Fine and thin hair types should avoid using cholesterol treatments as they tend to weigh the hair down.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ></span>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-56106091354638152009-04-24T15:35:00.000-07:002009-04-24T19:11:49.568-07:00She's One of Us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHygR-6n7mGzoe0-UlsbGsz5Xx09yeKtc99q_Yu1uvujo0oeK6f9b7TMdsgk_kRbmnf76kpQ1q1RFISLli8epS9TE5AEVHs9VzglBO66RTSmO2p5EvH6tpRbmsLjwFCDZ93mGqT6NNeJB/s1600-h/ozrlhr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHygR-6n7mGzoe0-UlsbGsz5Xx09yeKtc99q_Yu1uvujo0oeK6f9b7TMdsgk_kRbmnf76kpQ1q1RFISLli8epS9TE5AEVHs9VzglBO66RTSmO2p5EvH6tpRbmsLjwFCDZ93mGqT6NNeJB/s200/ozrlhr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328390447075370626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSbpxaHqX9jTUGxksBQtm4D2ny7JcC6NR5Rei_VpsfUE82encmMSphevYzx4eQWfLlx8X1SgjYJ5hPJHvGRbzrD4CX98wnD2MqgBZ9vCO1xqRoJ_GUe4bxLwGTCn3dXHLq9_CdWjG_q2A/s1600-h/s-OPRAH-154x114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSbpxaHqX9jTUGxksBQtm4D2ny7JcC6NR5Rei_VpsfUE82encmMSphevYzx4eQWfLlx8X1SgjYJ5hPJHvGRbzrD4CX98wnD2MqgBZ9vCO1xqRoJ_GUe4bxLwGTCn3dXHLq9_CdWjG_q2A/s200/s-OPRAH-154x114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328400145635709426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After years of mostly protective styling, Oprah declares, "no I'm not wearing a weave" via <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://twitter.com/oprah">twitter</a>. Loves it!<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/24/oprah-defends-her-hair-th_n_191287.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a> for the article and video in case you missed it.Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-83225895017744257962009-04-24T14:58:00.001-07:002009-04-24T15:07:04.087-07:00Great Read: Chee Gates on Being Natural.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYC-UCrYR4I56Cr_jjyf2w8QAm0uwPjfewdqsT1X6vk1GxJHsLtr-ZnhFUSqSdoh8M20wYFLQDLD2uWjsTjGfuIMfK57uJFcdUE4MOXfMjWF49R8Gm22RvVo0GUpgZGKz-Qn7b6pq4Qpw/s1600-h/omag_200708_gates_220x312.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYC-UCrYR4I56Cr_jjyf2w8QAm0uwPjfewdqsT1X6vk1GxJHsLtr-ZnhFUSqSdoh8M20wYFLQDLD2uWjsTjGfuIMfK57uJFcdUE4MOXfMjWF49R8Gm22RvVo0GUpgZGKz-Qn7b6pq4Qpw/s200/omag_200708_gates_220x312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328380892891119794" border="0" /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ></span></a>Every black girl I knew—whether she was ebony-skinned or the color of butternut squash—wanted the same thing I did: hair that hung silk-straight. Our collective desire was rooted in the self-deprecating mentality that kinks were gross and had to be concealed, if not corrected. Straight hair promised romance, laughter, abounding beauty. If I wanted to be happy, I had no choice but to unravel every nap on my head. There was only one method that would do it: I'd have to get a perm, also called a "relaxer."<br /><br />That first perm is like a black girl's bat mitzvah. It's a coming out—a rite of passage into womanhood. What's different is that the initial relaxing doesn't happen at any set age. And waiting too long could retard a girl's social progress. Here's why: Before your hair is relaxed, you're viewed as a child. (Or even a dope. Or you aren't viewed at all.) Because being invisible doesn't jibe with an only child whose astrological sun is in Leo—I could barely wait ten minutes to be in the spotlight—I got my first relaxer before I was even old enough to wear deodorant, thinking it would accelerate my path to stardom. <br /><br />I was a follower—mimicked whatever was deemed of-the-moment.... <a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200708_omag_hair/3">Click to continue reading Being Natural.<br /></a>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3021456992750250605.post-69622415831511236852009-04-22T18:09:00.000-07:002009-04-23T16:30:07.551-07:00It's Major: Deep Conditioning<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUqaUNTE3uJVLFMJEy-HKFVXnoU-uSi_ZjxvDb0umI8IhSqqO_gUd9iGQLhE8EnenJsItq3aHv6MRstdGxMl1bnNqhIc2q1o1jGMUqwIoFgYJWhMwPIYXyiEsSJmlBkNvgQHji_xE1QzM/s1600-h/FAA030000197.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUqaUNTE3uJVLFMJEy-HKFVXnoU-uSi_ZjxvDb0umI8IhSqqO_gUd9iGQLhE8EnenJsItq3aHv6MRstdGxMl1bnNqhIc2q1o1jGMUqwIoFgYJWhMwPIYXyiEsSJmlBkNvgQHji_xE1QzM/s200/FAA030000197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327692719582172066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> It has preventative and restorative functions. It's a necessity. Period.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The greatest change in the manageability and elasticity of my hair is most definitely due to deep conditioning consistently.</span><span style="font-family:arial;">Having been dependent on a hairdresser for many years, I thought of deep conditioning as a special extra $20 treatment that I only had to do once a month. It was only recommended to me once a month. At home, conditioning was using the partner that came with the shampoo on sopping wet hair for the 2-3 minutes directed. The use of sulfate-laden shampoos and heat-styling tools should always be preceded by and followed with a conditioning treatment that provides moisture and strength appropriately.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> The most difficult thing initially will be recognizing when your hair needs a specific treatment </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >i.e oils, moisture, protein or cholesterol.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> That's why it's important to become an expert on our own hair and not a just copy our hair idols. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I thought I knew how to deep condition when I first started this journey. I was wrong. Mimicking my old hair dresser did nothing for my hair. Here's what I changed:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-Give the DCing process it's due respect: I hop out of the shower after </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >squeezing out excess water, lightly pat with a towel and apply conditioner in sections.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> This is one of the best tips that I've learned. Removing the excess water allows the conditioner to penetrate better and applying it in sections ensures that I haven't neglected patches of hair.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">-The cold water rinse: It closes the cuticles and helps to seal in the moisture.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Make sure you have a deliberate and effective deep conditioning experience. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">BTW, Shout out to </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >CHAKA</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> who so wonderfully pointed out that the header had been misspelled for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >months</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. Smh @ anyone who saw and didn't say anything lol.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Also, if you emailed me, I'm currently going through them so be patient with me. AND if anyone has any tips on how to get over a guy in 24 hours, it would be greatly appreciated ::sniffles::</span>Heat Styled Naturalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250117946596552714noreply@blogger.com