bholmes87: twist challenge week 5!! Let's get it in!

Hey natural beauties!! This is bholmes coming at you with lots of info about something I love and am soooo excited about. MY HAIR!!!!
Since I'm new to CN.com I wanted to start by giving the basics on my hair. I have no idea when my first relaxer was but it's been as long as I can remember (I'm guessing about 3rd grade or so - my memory doesn't go too far back lol). I have always been extremeley, utterly and painfully tender-headed! But my mom would still put that creamy crack on my poor, sensitive scalp *tear*
Over the summer I almost always had braids - either dooky braids, micros, or cornrows. I HATED getting my hair braided because it felt like my hair was getting ripped out. And most likely it was. But I would rather have my hair braided than sit through the torture of the DUN-DUN-DUN .... pressing comb! Eek!!
My hair was thick even with relaxers so after getting lyed, Moms would shampoo about 4-5 times (ya'll know about that neutralizer poo), condition and blow dry. Then I would have to sit for another hour and a half being scared of the hot comb. Not the business at all
Then I started caring for my hair, or better yet NOT taking care of my hair. I was pretty much indifferent about my hair during middle and high school. There were a few occassions when I would come out the shop feeling good about my tresses, but most of the time it was a nuisance and I definitely didn't love it. I had always envied people with curly hair, not just nappies but all curls. It was always so excited and beautiful to me. But I would look at my new growth and be convinved that my natural hair would not be manageable. After all, I could barely manage the relaxed hair!
My hair would grow with relaxer but never past shoulder length. I've never been obsessed with how long my hair is because, well, it had never been long! So I was fine with the short to medium dos. Basically my hair in high school was as follows: it was down in a wrap or up in a ponytail. Period. There was no variation, no creativity, no fun, at least not for me. I left all that up to my sister because I couldn't (and still can't) braid or flat twist or do anything except run a flat iron through my hair. I had never even had a weave. Can we say BORING!?!? *yawn*
Then I went to college. I started to see natural curls all around me!!! It was beautiful and I had some curl envy for sure. But since most of the people that wore their hair natural were mixed or what I thought was "not straight black" (I was so ignorant *sigh*) I still didn't think I could transition. Besides that fact, my Mom seemed to think that the only presentable hairstyle was bone straight. And I was getting sick and tired of that look.
Until one day my friend told me that she was going natural and she introduced me to youtube. When I say I was addicted it's no joke!!!! I would be on youtube for 4 hours or more a day because I was inspired and awed by the natural hair information available to me. I had never heard of transitioning, the BC, twistouts, bantu knots, shingling, pre poos, co washes or any of the other numerous terms that I now know. It wasn't until 2007-2008 school year that I realized that I NEEDED to go natural. I needed to feel unique and beautiful and stylish.
So that's what I did. I started the transtion journey. YAY!!!! And during that time I was on youtube every day looking at styles I wanted to try and turning into a wannabe product junkie - without the money to buy all the products I wanted. Lol. I still hadn't discovered fotki until mid 2009 and now I have an added addiction. I can browse through those pictures all day (I'm sure some of you can understand and relate).
So I've given you the basics of my hair journey and will definitely add some pictures so that you can understand even more about my hair. I look forward to connecting with all of you soon and very soon : )

Peace and blessings,
B

Welcome to the family!

Thank you sweetdrk! I'm still kind of confused as to how this forum is supposed to work but I'm figuring it out slowly. lol

Welcome!!! I had to laugh at dooky braids...its been a while since I heard it.

Welcome to the challenge!!!

@Shee: Haha I had to speak the truth!! You know we all had them at some point or another ... lol thanks for welcoming me!!!!

@Lynnie: Yay!! I can't wait to get this show on the road. Now I've added another obsession on top of all the others now ... lol

I know what you mean about discovering the hair videos on YouTube. When my husband sees me on the computer he'll ask, "Are you looking at hair videos AGAIN?" lol They're so addictive and inspirational.

I used to be addicted to Facebook. Now I'm addicted to natural hair websites. Welcome to the thread. You can start by posting some pics of your relaxed hair and natural hair now. Then daily give us updates and pics of styles, products, or any revelations you have along your journey. Welcome!

Hello and welcome...

StephanieB wrote:I know what you mean about discovering the hair videos on YouTube. When my husband sees me on the computer he'll ask, "Are you looking at hair videos AGAIN?" lol They're so addictive and inspirational.

Haha I surely do know! All my friends are always asking me, "Are you STILL watching videos on youtube?" lol but I just can't get enough!!!!

Juices-n-Berries wrote:I used to be addicted to Facebook. Now I'm addicted to natural hair websites. Welcome to the thread. You can start by posting some pics of your relaxed hair and natural hair now. Then daily give us updates and pics of styles, products, or any revelations you have along your journey. Welcome!

I'm still a little low key addicted to facebook but I'm WAY more addicted to hair sites! And thank you so much for giving me ideas on what to post cuz I was at a loss ... lol

thanks BlondbyDesire! I'm definitely feeling welcome by everyone

So I found some pictures of my hair when it was relaxed, most of them from 2005-06:

I wore braids quite often, especially in the summer because permies don't like water. lol


I got my stunna shades on


The norm - shoulder length hair


It's a little longer ...


FRESH out the shop! I thought I was so cute. smh


Lots of shine, but I'm not really happy with my hair (as you can probably tell by my face)


I couldn't take any pictures off of facebook because it wouldn't let me but that's where I started - super straight hair. My idea of style has changed sooooo much in the past year it's ridiculous! I'm just crazy about curls what can I say

Welcome!!

I can't wait to see pics of your curly hair. The natural websites/you tube is so very addicting. I tell my husband knowledge is power and since I have 3 curly heads of hair (mine and 2 daughters). I have to be well informed on the newest products and styles..lol..

You are so right! I want to know as much as possible about my hair because it impacts my life everyday!! It can truly make a difference in the way I feel when I walk out the house. And I'm just beginning to learn about my curls! So I have a lot more info to learn. I added you on fotki too

Thanks! I have to update my fotki. I added you also.

My girls are out of school on Monday maybe I will get a chance this weekend.

Yeah whenever you get the chance just let me know cuz I'll probably forget! lol

I can't see the pics? :-( What happened?

@ChrsLvsBks: I will definitely be posting! I feel like you guys are the only ones that will tolerate me talking about my hair for so long ... lol everyone else is like are you done talking about hair yet? Of course not! I'm just getting started!!

@Juices-and-Berries: I don't know why you can't see the pictures!! Hopefully it was just an error

There was something wrong with my browser. I can see the pics now.

Welcome and good luck with your hair journey.

Thank God it's Tuesday!!
Since I'm still in the introductory period, I wanted to add some pictures of my transitioning journey, which was approximately a year long (December 08-December 09). My staple style during the transition was bantu knot outs. They were my favorite, they were easy, the results were always different and I loved seeing my hair curly for a change! Honestly when I look back on the transition phase, I don't know how I did it. It wasn't always difficult and I had a lot of fun, but it was so long and I was always anxious to see my curls and I wouldn't want to do it again to be honest. If I did ABSOLUTELY HAVE to do it again, it would only be for about 3-4 months. Anyhoo, I'll post some pics from the transition after class today, and tomorrow I'll bring it up to date with natural hair pics from December 09 to Febraury 10!!

Alright here are the pics! Hopefully they all work:

The only time my hair was straightened during the transiition


My most frequent style: bantu knot outs!



Braids and braid outs



I did a few buns, usually baggied underneath


All the extensions: kinky twists, micros, weaves, half wig



Some of my fros


Puffin it up



My other favorites were twists and twist outs



And lastly I needed to show a few texture shots



So that's been my transition journey! Tomorrow I'll add some pics of the BC and slowly catch up to the present day. Most of these pics were made as animated avatars so if they don't work, I apologize!! But you should get to see at least one pic of each style