Nail Polish

So since I began my hair journey, I've been watching way more YouTube than I'd ever imagined.  Each time I click on a new hair video, two things jump out at me: one, these chicks can do some makeup and two,  their nails look awesome.

I CANNOT deal with makeup. My mother didn't wear it when I was growing up, so I never really played with it as a child.  Plus, I do not need to add another step to my "get ready" routine.  BUT NAIL POLISH!  I can do nail polish... or so I thought.

If you look closely, you will see I jacked up this manicure!! I have polish all over my cuticles and let's just say that I didn't come close to staying in the lines.  To make matters worse, I had a Christmas Eve dinner to get to, so I didn't have time to take off this stuff.  So, yes I went out like this.  Luckily, it was a dinner filled with friends who could care less about my terrible first attempt at "fancy polish."

Don't fear, this won't be my last attempt at this.  Like my hair journey, I am hoping this "situation" will only get better with time.

French Twist Obsession

I have become obsessed with French Twists since Naptural 85 posted her set of French Twist videos on YouTube.  I watched The Help last night and it only made me love the style more.  Ladies rocked the heck out of that style back in the day.

 I love having my hair off my neck and neat.  I also love that I don't have to touch my hair for two days or more, if I do everything right.

I have been searching high and low for new techniques to help me master it.  Right now, I can only do it if I have a hump up top.  I am tired of the hump, but unless my hair is pressed, it ain't laying flat.  So, I need the hump to style the volume.

I'm really excited about my upcoming roller setting challenge because when the curls fall, I will make sure they fall into a french twist of some sort.

I am going to kick off the new year with a hot oil treatment for my scalp and I am going to stick to one set of products.  I'll focus more on purchasing accessories, instead of more hair products. I can honestly say, I HAVE ENOUGH.  I know I have said this before, but I plan to stick to it this time.  Since going to the shop is no longer an option, I have to do this right.  Plus, when I go back home I want my old stylist from childhood to do my hair.  I already know she'll be disappointed in the state it is in, but I want to tell and show her that I am truly in a state of repair.

Goals

I just signed up for a six month roller setting challenge, thanks to Ebonyprincess.  It seems simple enough for me, but of course I got too excited.  I hopped on Sally's website and ordered some Creme of Nature products.

((Yes, my editor is a dog.  She sits over my shoulder.  Unfortunately, she's not a good editor. LOL!))

I've been reading everywhere that the company has changed the formula, but I feel like I need to give an old and trusted name a try.  My hair isn't totally in love with any of the shampoos and conditioners I've been using.  Of course, I really haven't given any of them a real chance because I am a product junky.  I mean I seriously have a real problem.  Plus, after my last trip to the salon, I know I have to find something that really works because that place charges an arm and a leg.

There used to be a time when I said I would always set aside money for my hair because it is part of hygiene, but I won't allow stylists to take advantage of me.  The last over priced place I visited, had three separate people working on my hair.  How does anyone develop a personal relationship with your hair to help you keep it healthy?  They say it's in an effort to put an end to eight hour days in the salon. Whatever!  Until I can find a good stylist who is not trying to rob me, I'll just keep ripping out hair.

Now, I should add that at this point, I've ripped out so much that I don't have much to spare.  But I am looking at this as a learning period.  As I've mentioned before, this is the first time that I've really tried to care for my own hair.  I've only been doing this five months.  It can only go up from here... I hope.

Anyway... I've totally digressed from the point of this post.  The other day I was looking through old pictures when I was younger, slimmer and had longer, healthier hair.  I looked a lot better when I was lighter.  I stood on the scale today and  let's just say I have surpassed the safe zone.

I am going to drink and eat all that I can because in 2012, I'm bringing the slim sexy back.  OMG!  Just five years ago, it was so easy to stay slim.  It looks like the 30s are going to kick my tail.

I should add that the dog/editor pictured above isn't helping me stay fit.  She hates walking and she's friggin' lazy.  WTF?!

Ok... back to my point:  Aside from sticking to roller setting my hair for six months, I will also get a better handle on my diet.  It appears that junk food and Starbucks lead to weight gain.  Why didn't anyone tell me?  LOL!

I'm Straight Again

I made good on my pledge to get my hair pressed and trimmed every two months, but I didn't get as much cut as I was supposed to.  I only trimmed an inch.  For the first time in my life, I had scissor fright.  Ugh!  I was a bit disappointed in myself.

I won't be going back to this particular shop because they boosted their prices significantly.  So.. I have two months to find a new stylist to help me out.

Sooo my hubby has fallen in love with my Suave Naturals conditioner, so I think I will have to get myself more new cheapy conditioner.  I think I'm going to try the Herbal Essence Hello Hydration.  Everyone keeps saying it has great slip and I am having a hard time adequately detangling my new growth.  My hair is shoulder length and I have about three inches of new growth now.  The ends will be detangled, but not the new growth.  I don't think that's good for the hair or my scalp.

I'm hoping this press lasts at least two weeks.  By that time, I should be ready to return to the curlformers. I have a new technique that will hopefully help me out a little bit.

Ok.. so back to the cheapy conditioner. I know I said I wouldn't buy anything else for three months, but this purchase won't be more than five dollars.  Plus, I'm really doing this so my hubby can have the Suave Naturals... yeah.. I'm sticking to that.

Latest Purchases

Products:

Jessicurl Deep Conditioner
Original Moxie Leave-in

Tool:

Aveda Paddle Brush

Jcrew Headbands

1. The one on the left is black and bejeweled
2. The one of the right is actually a glittery silver and gold with a bow on the side

Wash Day

Wash day was interesting.  I didn't feel like using the curlformers and decided that once my hair was dry, I'd quickly put it in an up do. I tried three different ones and didn't like any.  I finally had to give up so I could go to bed.  Here's the boring look.

Here's the rundown.

1. I washed with Design anti-dandruff shampoo and the moisture retention shampoo.  My scalp was so dirty and I was glad these two products performed well for me.

2.  I used Jessecurl deep conditioner.  I tried to detangle as I put it on, but the comb was not going through.  So I smooshed it on each section (I had six braids), put on a plastic cap and sat under the dryer for 30 minutes.

3.  I tried part of Shelli from Hairscapades method and put some Suave conditioner on top of it once I was out of the dryer.

4. I hopped in the shower rinsed it all out and detangled.  The detangling process wasn't bad at all.

5.  I used my new leave-in by Original Moxie. I know this is just the first use, but I'm tossing Knot Today to the side.  The Original Moxie feels more like a lotion.  I immediately saw and felt its effects as soon as I put it on my hair.  It left my hair shiny and I didn't have to put a bunch of other crap in there.  With the Knot Today, I never knew when it was working and thought maybe I wasn't letting the hair dry enough before I put in on.

6.  I should have just dried my hair in the braids, but I tried to wrap the sections on Flexis.  That was stupid, that just prolonged the drying process.

7.  Once dry, I smoothed with my new paddle brush.  I'm not sure I should have used it.  I think I may have ripped some thangs.

8. I embarked on my attempt to style my hair.  My magic was not working, but I finally got it done.

***I didn't use any oils to seal. I decided to just put some Dax grease on it.  My hair feels incredibly soft and it's kind of shiny. I just hate I couldn't execute the style I envisioned.

I'm hoping this boring style lasts two days, then I'll moisturize and re-style.  I get my hair done at the shop this Saturday.  I hope I get a different wash boy.  I don't want to have to get ugly in there.

Looks of the Weeks

As I stated in my last post, I am OVER the spirals.  So.. here's a look at how things went this week.

I brushed out the curls, combed it into a pony tail and did this bun. It was inspired by the cinnabun look on YouTube.  Mine is rather blah, but it's OK. Right?

I followed it up with these looks.  I got sick on Thanksgiving and had to skip the necessary wash.  So when I wash this Sunday, it will be long overdue.

Strange french twist/roll

I jazzed things up with a headband (at least I thought it was jazzed up)

Then I added a little flare to my bangs.  I put them in a flat twist at night, took it down and pinned until it looked like this (a man's hair piece. LOL)

I finished up the week, with a flat twist in the front and a bun in the back.

What I learned most from this stretch is that if my hair isn't pressed, it needs to be moisturized every two days.  So I really shouldn't rock any style longer than two days, although I am lazy and try to stretch it to three.

I have to admit that I am still discouraged by how long my wash days are, but I won't give up.  I like knowing that if I get caught in the rain, it's no big deal.  I can fix my hair and I didn't waste a $50 trip to the shop.  But with that said, I am going to get my hair pressed and trimmed next Saturday.  I'm supposed to take off an inch, but I'm not sure if I can handle that.  I can barely get my hair into a french twist as it is. I may only cut off a half inch.

Oh... and it's been 7.5 months since my last relaxer.

I'm About Ready To Give Up

I am freaking tired of these all day wash sessions. Is there an easy way around this?  Why yes there is.  Returning to the beauty shop!

Anyways, here's the rundown of my latest wash day.  Forget the saying "read 'em and weep."  Look at my pictures and weep. Yikes!

I decided to give my design express moisture conditioner a shot.  After washing with the anti-itch and the moisturizing shampoos, I piled on that conditioner.  My hair felt good.  For just a quick second I thought, "this is going to be awesome."  Well, I was dead wrong.  When I rinsed out that stuff, my hair was hard with no slip, which means my hair was NOT in the mood to be combed out. OMG!  Luckily, I had my suave close by.  I had to saturate my hair with that stuff and comb my hair out under a stream of water.  Things hadn't been that bad in a while.

As you could imagine I was dead tired when my hair was ready for styling.  Thank goodness my hubby turned it into a party and played some awesome songs, while I did my hair.  I used my Knot Today leave-in, coconut oil and sheamoisture smoothie to moisturize and seal my tresses.  Then I used Bee Mine curly butter to set my curlformers.

I must take this moment to say the curly butter sets and holds the curls far better than the ORS loc and twist gel. So... the gel will be resting in the back of my cabinet for a while.  Thank goodness it wasn't super expensive.

The curls came out great, but I AM. OVER. the spiral thing. I have to find some other way to stretch out my new growth. I mean that's why I love the curlformers so much, they stretch out those roots (As much as kinks can be stretched. LOL!)

So the next day, I brushed the curls into a side ponytail and left a bit out for some bangs.  Yes, I am 30+ rocking a toddler hair do.  Don't judge me.

I should add that my past impatience has cost my hair dearly as I have ripped out some hair in the crown of my head. It's looking like a bird's nest in the middle of my head. Oh well, you live, you learn and recover.

I am surfing YouTube looking for a new "french twist-roll-thing" to put my hair in for the rest of the week.

Now it's time to make a bit of a confession.  I ordered new leave-in and deep conditioners. I'm an idiot and this god awful do-it-yourself-hair has become my new obsession, hobby and burden.

So... next week I will NOT be using the design conditioner. Maybe, I'll just put my hair in medium sized braids and let it air dry, then put it in a bun or something.  We'll see. But something has got to give!!!

Oh... and no more purchases for at least three months!  Somehow, I will stick to this:-)