LIFE BEFORE NATURAL

                As a little girl, my hair was always a "problem".  I don't remember a time when I didn't have something in my hair; a relaxer, Jheri curl, sew-ins, braids.  I was always trying to cover up the naps and create the illusion that I had long luxurious hair.  In reality, my hair was damaged, thin, and unhealthy.  My hair was so thin and unhealthy that when I got sew-ins, my hair was too thin to cover up the tracks.  My mother took me to numerous hair dressers trying to get my hair to grow or figure out a way to tame my super coarse hair.  Never was it suggested that I should be my natural self.  My natural hair was something I was ashamed of and as much confidence as I tried to exude, deep down I didn't feel pretty.  In college I went through the phase of getting my hair cut short, which I liked at first, but still required all day appointments at the hair dresser to get a relaxer and maintain the cut.  In addition to that, the daily maintenance of a short cut that needed to be curled added the extra stress of heat.  As I have gotten older I realize that while I love to look good, it has to be with the least amount of effort possible.  Therefore, the short cut eventually lost its appeal and I was back to looking for something else to cover up my hair.  

                My last hair style was what finally made me decide to go natural.  The style was super cute and I stuck with it for a little over a year (which is really long for me).  It was the short hair cut style that Rihanna was famous for (shaved on one side, longer on the other side with a longer bang).  Even though the style was cute, it drove my self esteem even lower because in order to pull off the style, I STILL needed a little bit of weave in the front.  Who needs weave for a hair CUT?  I had had enough.  I decided that as soon as my hair grew out enough for braids, that I was going natural.  I didn't know what I was going to do with my natural hair, but I decided that I would figure that out later.  I began getting braids in February 2009 and wore them without fail until September 2011.  Each time I got my hair re-braided, I cut the relaxer out of my hair little by little.  I was so amazed at how my hair was growing.  There were a few times that I tried to wear my afro out but being new to natural hair, I was unaware of shrinkage.  I tried to blow my afro out to make it bigger but the heat began to damage my hair again so I went back to the braids.  Finally, I decided, you know what? I'm not going to worry about how short my hair looks or what people will say, I'm not wearing braids, weaves, or anything.  I'm going to get locs.  Getting locs was THE BEST decision of my life.   I love my hair.  I love the low maintenance and the carefree feeling my locs give me.  I have been loc'd for almost 2 years and this is the longest and healthiest my hair has ever been.   My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner and avoid a lot of the turmoil I went through trying to understand and accept my authentic self.   

-Shaun Scott

               

Big Chop

I big chopped 9/8/2012 and it has been such an amazing experience. I've learned to care for my hair and watch it grow. My goal is BSL by the end of summer. I've had so much success with hair growth and retention and I could list the products that I use but your health plays a huge part as well. Hair vitamins, natural products, and heat free styling only go so far. I wanted to do a series on health tips that not only help with hair growth but also with overall health. I think we forget our body is a machine working to keep us going. We can't just focus on hair we must focus on the body as a whole.

Hydration is key. You must drink water every single day. It is so important not just for healthy hair but for clear skin, better metabolism, and helps energize muscles. If you want healthy hair drinking water is a must. The amount of water you should drink daily varies from person to person. I personally try to drink at least 2 liters a day. If you take your weight and divide it by 2 that's the numbers of ounces of water you should be drinking daily.

I know a lot of you don't like the taste of water but don't let that stop you from drinking it and staying healthy. It should be health over taste but if you're not quite there yet try making your own vitamin waters. Adding fresh fruit, fresh herbs, and even some veggies to water is a great way to add flavor to water and also add vitamins.

 Vitamin water recipe.<http://www.theyummylife.com/Flavored_Water> 

Sassy Water Recipe.<http://www.asweetsimplelife.com/home/2012/1/16/sassy-water.html/>

-Demetra

He Say She Say They Say I Heard...

I could write a post telling you what to do, what to buy, how to do it, how often etc... 

You can come on here and rant and rave about how frustrated you are because you tried a method someone else told you worked for them, and you expected the same results. I guess this post is for the newbies because I see a lot of frustration on here because some of you had high expectations for your hair, and a couple months later, you're frustrated because your hair isn't growing as fast as you want it to, and it's curls aren't as defined as you were hoping they would be. Some have become complete product junkies and just layer products over each other to get a slick bun, or a shiny twist out. Well I need to tell you something...

Stop.

Your hair isn't the issue. Or a burden. Your hair is doing what it's supposed to. The sooner you realize that shrinkage happens to everyone and that it's not a bad thing, that nobody's curl pattern is the same, and 100 products won't make life easier, the more enjoyable this journey will be for you. Give your hair a chance. Just love it, and take care of it, and you'll be rewarded. Trust me. 

Never take assume all advice or information will apply to your hair. Just because something works for some people and/or the informant has done their research, doesn't mean it will always work for you. If you just want to experiment and see if it works, that's fine. But don't expect everything to work; and don't get upset if it doesn't. Just move on to the next thing. Most, if not all, natural vets have gone through trial and error. We didn't just know what to do, and what to use. You don't get to dodge the mistakes either!

Patience really, really is the key to success with your hair. Be adventurous, be curious, and don't be hard on yourself or your hair when it doesn't turn out how you want. Have fun. Ask questions. Learn about other's experiences, and share your own. You'll be surprised what you learn -- even from yourself!

- Lauren

Going Natural, It Isn't Just A Fad.

It seems that as time passes you hear of more and more women cutting their relaxed hair and 'freeing' themselves from social standards. You see women of color sporting a fierce TWA, stretching relaxers, and transitioning. Natural Hair is in, even the media is on board. Seeming to only be casting black women with big curly natural hair in television commercials.

Big Curly Natural Hair-- everything a newly natural longs for. It all looks easy from the outside looking in right? That is until you realize that the Big and Curly look may take a little longer than you bargained for.  

Just remember. This is a JOURNEY. So while you're surfing through YouTube channels and googling everything natural hair remember your hair is your own. There may be someone out there who has a curl pattern similar to yours, but no one has your unique curls. OWN THAT! Try not to become envious of the vloggers and bloggers ((i know its hard when you have a hair crush))  As your hair is growing longer and stronger you yourself should be as well. Take the time to get to know your hair and Y0U. 

The best way to achieve long healthy hair is to work from the inside out. Its one thing to keep your tresses hydrated but what about your body? Are you getting enough water? What about your fruit and vegetable intake?  Are you feeling stressed? Once you are taking care of your body, healthy hair is destined to follow.

Being natural is more than no longer undergoing head frying sessions. Its embracing a whole new self confidence. Being naturally you. So you better werk *snaps fingers*

- Piper

Summer Time lovin', lovin' in The Summer Time

My brother had his high school graduation last week, so you know that's the symbol of summer.

Summer freedom to go to the beach, travel, work, or lay around in the A/C. But I'll be working hard to bring you guys fresh ideas, products, stories, videos, and more all summer long and beyond.

While I'm doing that though, there will always be video projects going on, giving you a chance to help others in their hair journey. Sometimes reading someone's words doesn't help. Actually seeing their hair, while listening to them tell you about their experiences and give advice works better for some. For those that are camera shy, I have a section for you to tell your own story of your journey and/or send in pictures to accompany them, so that you can contribute in your own way.

I'm also coming up with products to help some of you out (especially my 4c ladies) and I'd really appreciate if I got a couple of ladies willing to try them out, when I create them.....

Anyways, explore the site, and I hope you see something you'd like to get involved in!

I hope to get this page full of activity before 2013 ends and I can't do it without you!

- Lauren

Rub-A-Dub

I keep procrastinating with creating my hair schedule so pretty much I just oil and style my hair until I feel it's time to wash it.... today happened to be that day. I washed my hair about a week or two ago with this vegetablesomethingorother shampoo that... didnt do bad things to my hair, but I wasn't really feeling what it was doing to it, so today i ACV washed. I have one of those applicator bottles, so i put about a 1/4 cup of baking soda in it, then filled it up with water and squirted it aaallll in my hair. Then I poured some baking soda powder in my hand and rubbed my scalp to make sure i got it good and clean.

then i rinsed the bottle, and poured vinegar in it (typically apple cider vinegar is used but i didnt have that... i had white vinegar). I squirted it all in my hair and it started to fizz up and watnot, feelin good feelin great, and i rub and rub and rinse.

After that's all done I rinsed my bottle and put aloe vera juice in it and saturated, sectioned and combed my hair, and put coconut oil in.

Okay i put too much coconut oil in my hair, so my mom rubbed my head and used some oil on her skin -______-

But anyways, my hair feels clean and moisturized, and my scalp feels so good...

- Lauren