Perm Rods...Epic Fail? Or Not...

Lol ok! SO...

Remember how in my post yesterday I said how I've read it's super duper important that your hair is completely dry before undoing your hair...

Sigh....

Lol! I THOUGHT it was completely dry! I even ran the hair dryer over it a tad. But alas it was still damp in some places.

I tried styling it a couple of ways. It wasn't too bad, but eventually I just took the pic to my hair and now I have a super 'fro. 

And I love it!

So even thought it didn't come out the way I envisioned, it's still cute. 

One thing I've learned is the proper way to comb. Yes, there is a proper way. Lol and I should have known already considering it's the same way I've read how to comb out wigs. Every time I would comb my hair before I would lose so much hair! Like handfuls. It made me want to cry! And it was a pain! But I've learned that starting from the ends and working your way up to the roots is so much better for my hair! When I picked it out there was hardly any hair loss!

Another success was moisturizing my hair! It gets so dry, so of course I went online and discovered the loc method. 

For those of you who don't know the loc method stands for liquid (or leave in conditioner), oil and cream.

For liquid I used Creme of Nature Strength and Shine Leave-In Conditioner (I've read you can use water). 

I planned on using Aussie's Hair Insurance Leave-In, because I like that a lot, but Target didn't have it. 

The oil I used was extra virgin olive oil. I would have used coconut oil, but I've read that cold pressed is best and Target did not have that either. But I like olive oil on my hair too, so I wasn't too disappointed lol. FYI olive oil is on sale at Target for $3.99 until September 13. At least around here. Check out your local store. :-)

Finally for the cream I used this....

One of my besties, Rosie turned me on to this about a year ago! I LOVE this stuff! I usually use it with Suave Professional Rosemary and Mint Shampoo. It's amazing and my husband loves the way my hair smells after.  In the YouTube video I watched she suggested the Shea Moisture curling smoothie and a few more suggestions as well; I will post the link to the video at the end. Forgive me for not remembering her name. I went ahead and got this because like I said I love it, and I can use it as the deep conditioner as well!

So before my perm rod set I washed my hair since it had been a week, then I did the loc method. 

My hair feels so soft and healthy! I will definitely be doing this on a regular basis now! 

So been although the perm rod style didn't come out quite right, I'm loving the loc method!

Here is the video on the loc method that I watched and liked. There are lots out there, but this is one of my faves! Here name is Kia Marie aka The Notorious K.I.A.

 http://youtu.be/_wvBlGshBlM

 

My Natural Hair Journey

So I'm posting from my phone...ugh clicked out for a second and list my whole post so I've got to start over lol 

I know it's been a long time since I posted on here. I need to do better. 

I've been making some awesome food too! I've been on a crockpot kick lately. OMG so delicious!

But I'll get to that in another post. 

I've been on the natural hair train for almost four years now! I did my "big chop" in November of 2010. 

I was just so fed up with my hair that one day I grabbed some scissors and went a little Britney Spears on my hair. My hubby came home, looked at me and literally said, "My baby pulled a Britney!" 

But he loved and he loves my natural hair :-) <3

I have to admit. Back then the whole #teamnatural wasn't as big as it has grown to be over the last couple of years.  And I was totally lazy with my hair. But then I began to learn how to do my own braids and twists. Honestly, I mostly learned because I didn't want to pay someone 2-3 hundred bucks for braids. 

After that I discovered these protective styles, as I later discovered that's what they were called, were a good way for me to take better care of my hair!

Just a few different styles :-) I like to mix it up!

Well a few weeks ago, I got my first sew-in in I don't know how many years! I really like the look of it. 

One mistake I realized I made was getting the sew-in right after taking my braids down. >_< yowza! Big no no! Lol

I toughed it out though. After a few weeks I was ready to take it down. 

Of course I planned on putting it right back up in braids, but the braid from the sew-in was still nice and tight so I just left it up for a little while longer. 

I finally unbraided last week.

I was shocked my how much my hair had grown! My hubby looked at me and thought I was wearing a wig! (I wear those often too lol)

I honestly don't think my hair has been this long since junior high. The back is at the top of my shoulders and the sides are past my ears. The front is a little past my nose. 

I put my hair up in twists the other day and wasn't really feeling it so I took them down and picked it out. I like this look much better. 

This is me today (9/6/14).

I've been doing a LOT of research lately on how to take care of my hair and maintain it.

I think now that it's past that "awkward" phase I'm more excited about the things I can to with it. So now I'm about to really start on my natural hair journey. And I'm going to bring you all along with me!

Granted, most of the time my hair is still going to be in braids lol. It's just easier for me that way. But I will be checking in and showing you guys things I'm doing and learning, as well as occasion length checks!

Tonight I'm going to be picking up some products from the store. I have been watching videos on how to better moisturize my hair! It gets so dry. Also I may be trying perm rods on my hair tonight. My bestie left a ton of them over here, so I'm going to try them out. I usually only use them to dip braid ends on me or my girls hair. 

But I'll keep you all posted!

❤️