Darcy's Botanticals is da truth!

Hi Ladies,

I have decided to do a journal. I've always been a writer, plus, I am loving everyone's stories and pictures. There's an amazing sense of community on these boards. I believe in practicing sisterhood and I'm sharer by nature, so, here I am. Maybe one day someone will learn from my journey like I'm learning from all of yours.

How I Got Here
I made my decision to go natural quite by accident. I've been wearing kinky twist on and off for about four years. I love them, but my hair breakage is horrible. I admit to not taking care of my hair very well while it was twisted and in between braids so I know that is probably my fault. I've never been a true creamy crack addict because perms just didn't do much to keep my naturally wavy hair straight past the first wash anyway. I probably permed my hair two to three times a year in between braids. (I know crazy to perm for braids).

I haven't had a relaxer in a little over a year and I took my braids out a month ago and thought,
what do I do with my hair? It's thinning at the edges and completely broken off in the top. Very little perm up there. I don't have the money right now for twist and based on the thinning I need a break from it. I have quite a few friends who are doing their natural hair thing, so I figured what the heck. I'm down for something new. I went to my girlfriend's house a little over a week ago (all
four of the women in her house have natural hair). Her mother took pity on my sorry ponytail and twisted out my hair. I was in instant love.

I've been reading and joining forums and watching YouTube videos and buying products ever since. At first I was completely overwhelmed and confused about what I should be using and doing. My girlfriend's mother told me what she used, but she also shared that my hair was completely different in texture and that her products were probably not the best for my hair. Two days later, my twist out is kind of a hot mess. It's dry, as my hair is always dry as the desert.

The next day I purchased some glycerin, some Africa's Best Organics Shea Butter Plus (no
petro and mineral oil), Lotta Body and perm rods. I had some Mizani styling gel (I can see from reading, it's not the best), but it's what I had so at the time I figured I'd use it. I had a wide tooth combs, a spray bottle and lots of towels to get me started.

My hair is various lengths due to breakage. Shoulder length when stretched out from the back and not more than three inches in the top where I consistently can't grow it due to breakage or stress
or something.

My Goal and the Why's
I want to be 100% natural by this time next year.

I want to rock my natural hair for two reasons:
1) Relaxers have damaged my hair horribly. I want healthy hair. My hair deserves to be healthy.
and
2) I wasn't born with straight hair. I was born with a mix of wavy, kinky, curly hair. While I believe there's nothing wrong with a little augmentation, ie. makeup, hair dye, plastic surgery, whatever it takes to make you feel good about yourself, I do not believe that God meant for me to wear "lye" till I "die". Then there's the very sad self-image issue that black woman have with wanting European features. I don't want to be a part of that. It saddens me. We are such beautiful people. If we could only love ourselves. (That's another discussion for another day).

My Plan
I'm not ready to do the big chop yet as I honestly have liked having the ability to put my hair in a pony tail. 90% of the time that's what I did with my twist, relaxed hair, and weaves. So, B.C.ing will take away my ability to be lazy about styling my hair. I expect to be a long transitioner. Technically, I'm a year into it now. I like to take the long road, the winding path so that I understand and appreciate it, but I'm flexible.

On the personal, off the topic note, I'm the recently and ecstatically divorced mother of
two sons (ages 18, college bound and age 4, pre-school bound in the
fall). I work full-time as a training and policy specialist and I'm also a published novelist who writes
inspirational women's fiction.

Here are some pictures!


Me with a half wig and relaxed hair under. I always hated that look. I mean "Renny Really". There are my boys. They have beautiful hair. Mommy's going to join them.


This is a few years old but it's the only picture I can find with my twist that isn't professionally touched up or includes a bunch of other people. I'm camera shy. Not shy about buying books though.


All shrunk. Glossy though.


Me a few days ago. I can't remember what I had done to my hair. Maybe nothing. I look at that and think I look a hot mess, but actually, I guess I look like me.

Thanks for reading my story ladies. I'm hanging on to see what the ends gonna be.

Congrats on getting started! You mentioned that you don't want to cut your hair b/c you like to have the convenience of the ponytail. I think I should mention that having natural hair is work and if you truly want your hair to be healthy, strong and beautiful, you are gonna have to put in work and research, etc. You're right, the forum ladies are much like a family and we get excited to see each other try new styles, length achievements, anniversary markers, etc. Welcome aboard!

Welcome to Curl Street!! And I wish you so much luck on journey to becoming 100% natural. I agree with Serenity^^, being natural is work and can be very frustrating at times, especially when you first start dealing with your hair on it's own. But the ladies here are so helpful. It's a big second family for me.

I'm back already. I want to go ahead and take care of a problem right away. I'm standing up raising my right hand. "My name is Renny and I'm a product junkie."

As you read, I'm only a few weeks in to this process and look what I have accumulated. I must stop.


There are only four products there that I already had. "Really Renny." This is just ridiculous.

What do I absolutely love and know have a place in my future? These four products.

• I have always like NeXXus. I realize that may change, but for now, Humectin is my leave-in conditioner.
  
• I don't see much mention of Africa's Best Organics products, but I really like the Shea Butter Plus. My hair is so moist. I like the way it feels. But I'm a newbie. I have to try lighter things and see what I think of them as well.
  
• My top find is Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier. Words cannot explain how soft that stuff makes my hair feel and talk about an awesome, instant, detangler. I love it.
  
• Jojoba Oil - I mean, I'm not in love, but I'm in love with doing massages in my problem areas (that would be the top of my head). I have Rosemary Oil, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Gel and Coconut Oil too. I have to get a container to mix my oils in.
  

What's on my list?

ORS Lock and Twist and Jane Carter Nourish and Shine. I'm also thinking of trying Taliah Waajid's conditioner at some point, because she really did it with that mist.

I need a hair dryer. I've always air dryed my hair. Last night I pulled out my hood dryer (the one that's been in the closet for more than five years) and I hated sitting under that thing. Plus the neck is still broken, just like it was five years ago. It did not get healed. I want a bonnet dryer. I have to be able to lay in bed when I'm drying my hair for twist outs or I'll be wearing a ponytail.

Thanks Serenity23 and Ms. Stokes for the encouragement.

I do see that it's a lot of work. It's already a ton of work. I twisted out my hair last night. Took forever. My issue is not with washing or conditioning or making the time, it's with styling. Styling has always been a problem for me. I'm not very good with my hands. So until I learn how to work through some styles, I need to be okay with not really styling at all. Wash and gos I think will be a great summer do for me.

Welcome Renny!
In my opinion and from my own experience, the more you twist and braid, the better you get at it! I'm good at it because I started at a young age practicing on my "doll babies". Now I can even do my own kinky twists and braid extensions and do them for other people. It just takes time. I still have trouble cornrowing my hair and flat twisting it. My last Curl St. Journal update clearly shows that. lol

I use Africa's Best Herbal Oil and I love it, so maybe I will try the Shea Butter at some point.

Hey Renny and welcome to Curl Street!

You will definitely learn a lot from the ladies around here. I agree the TW Protective Mist Bodifier is great!

Here I am again. I know this is three entries in a row, but I'm trying to get caught up with my pictures.

I twisted out my hair last night. I'm leaving the twist in all day today. I'll take them out in the morning. I didn't wash my hair. I'd co-washed on Friday night, put on my leave-in
and oils, made six large plaits, bagged my head and left the braids in
all day Saturday. So, I didn't feel the need to wash again. I wet my hair with a mixture of water, conditioner and glycerin (that's what's in my spray bottle) and continued to keep it wet, because I heard wet was better. I put in my leave-in (Nexxus Humectin) and then some Organic Shea Moisture Plus. I used Eco-EVO Styling gel for my ends. I set it on a bunch of perm rods and sat under the dryer for 30 minutes. I woke up almost dry.













I'll post pictures after I loosen. It is my hope that I get two days worth of wear out of it. My oldest and I are going to his college orientation tomorrow. It's two days. We're staying overnight in college housing so I can't travel with much and won't have privacy. If it doesn't look good on Tuesday morning I plan to co-wash and wear a wash and go look with a headband.

Thanks again.

welcome

Welcome to the Curl Street!

Hi Renny!

I transitioned for almost a year a half, so there is nothing wrong with a long transition and waiting until you're comfortable with the length of hair you have before you chop your relaxed ends. Just make sure you take care of your hair in the process.

Your twists look good!! I wasn't much of hair stylist before I started wearing my hair natural and now I'm always doing something to my hair, I've never styled my hair so much before in my life!! Hopefully the styling bug will hit you too!

I had what I would consider a very successful hair week. I did a two strand twist out last Saturday night, loosened it Monday and had about 1 and 1/2 day hair. It was nice the first day, in my opinion, kind of ready for the detangler the second, but I wore it anyway, because I was out of town and I figured hey, it's my natural hair. It was still moist, just not well formed. (I shared the products I used on the post above). Here are the results on Monday morning:







Perm ends definitely messing up the groove, but still I was pleased.

Then here are some 2nd day hair pictures:







Not that bad. I probably would have washed it out if I was home, but I was out of town and didn't have all my products to work with. That was on purpose. I was determined to live with whatever the 2nd day result was. I have to get used to looking at my hair in it's natural state on good and bad days and I have to be okay with whatever it is. Really, that's a part of being natural. Loving me irregardless.

On Wednesday I attempted another wash and go. I used HEHH again, my Africa's Best Shea Moisture Plus and oils and then Ecostyler EVOO gel. I did a cold wash at the end. I think the WNG came out much better than the prior time, but still it was just okay. I have to get used to the shrinkage.

I had a slicked back ponytail on Thursday. It wasn't so slick. Kinda a hot mess because my hair is so short in the front from the breakage that it won't lay like it used to because I'm no longer using Jam.

I met up with a natural friend for lunch and she told me (the PJ) to buy SheaMoisture milk and smoothie. She thought it would be perfect for my hair texture because it's similar to hers and she swore by it during her transition and now. (Her hair is gorgeous). So I (the PJ) ran over to Target and purchased them. I did a two strand twist on Thursday night. I pre-pooed with oils, cowashed with HEHH, use my TW Protective Mist Bodifier, more oils ( a mix of Jojoba, EVOO, and rosemary) and put in the SheaMoisture Conditioning Milk as a leave-in. Then I did twist with the smoothie on perm rods.

I sat under the dryer for forty minutes and then had to dry for another twenty the next morning before I loosened my hair. I used a mix of oils to loosen. My hair was d-lish. I was in love. Soft - unbelievably moist and just about edible like an expensive piece of cheesecake, and the smell was divine. I got two days of wear out it. Yay! Two day hair. I'll be thrilled when I get three.

I didn't take any pictures. I had no time that morning.

My thoughts on the products:
I've cowashed with HEHH three times and each time I'm not thrilled. I don't know if I'm waiting for fireworks to go off or what, but I don't feel anything special when I use this conditioner. I'm cowashing with it because it was highly recommended and has no cones, so I'm giving it time. Going to go through at least half the bottle before I pass judgment. Maybe someone can tell me why they think it's so great. I'm not even thrilled with the slip. It ain't Nexus, but then again it don't cost like Nexus.

The Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl and Style Milk and Smoothie were an awesome combination, or maybe it was just the smoothie. I don't know. Putting in the milk in didn't wow me. It was so watery it felt like I wasn't doing anything, but I have to believe the combination did the trick. I liked my hair before, when I was using the NEXUS, but the NEXUS in no way compares to the feel I got after this product. It's now Sunday and my hair still feels like butter.

I'm about to wash, deep condition and do another twist out. I was a little heavy on the product, so this time I'll use a little less smoothie and see what I think.

Conclusions for this week: I am loving going natural. I'm completely committed to it and excited about it. I hate my permed ends. The big chop is coming quicker than I ever thought it would. My new big chop goal is Labor Day weekend, but don't be surprised if I don't make it that long.

I can not get rid of the gobbly guk at the bottom. Any tips?

Hey Renny..I am not good at styling myself. I am use to doing flat twists and wearing a twist out, but I am determined to get better at two strand twists! It's nothing wrong with being a product junkie b/c I am one also! lol

When I first read about cowashing my hair I thought, "I don't want to do that.", "Is there away around that?" I knew for sure I'd have an itchy scalp. I thought I'd think my hair was still dirty. NOT. I have cowashed about six times in the last two weeks and I love it. I love getting my hair wet period. I've been using HEHH and I think it's growing on me. I can't say I'm crazy about the slip. I'm trying to use the same thing for at least half a bottle before I move on. Suave, Tresamme and V05 are all lined up on the counter waiting their turn. I'm such a PJ.

Anyway, I've always loved my hair wet, so cowashing is right up my ally. It's the best thing about this natural journey so far. I feel so in love and in touch with my hair after I cowash. I'm in love with my hair period. Really!

New products - you know I tried some. I was going to deep condition and do another two strand twist out on Sunday night, but I was too tired, so I cowashed my hair, put in ORS Hair mayo and bagged it for the night. Snore. On Monday morning I was like, what to do with my hair? I settled on a ponytail. That leads into my PJism.

I'm learning more about moisture and reading lots about conditioners. Based on the raving I purchased Giovanni Direct Leave-in. I've used it for two days in a row right after cowashing. At first I didn't think I liked it. (I always think that), but I've worn a slicked back ponytail with Ecostyler EVOO gel for the last two days and my hair looks amazing. I wore the same pontytail last Thursday with the same gel and a different leave-in(my Nexxus Humetcin) and my hair was a mess. I blamed it on the gel, but now the gel is great so it had to be my hair (ie. with the Humectin in it because the weather conditions have not changed. Still hot and humid as West Hell.) Anway, last Thursday my hair would not lay down on the top. I'm going to try a pontytail on another day one more time with my Humetcin and if it's not right then I'll know for sure it's the Humetcin and that it's no longer an option for my hair.

Anyway, I love my hair. The shine is great and I think I'm recognzing a curl formation in the front. I'm all natural in the front because my hair broke off. Looks coil-y and "S"-y.

Thanks for stopping by my street.

Hi Renny! Welcome to Curl Street! All the best in your transition and hair journey! You're going to enjoy the ride, I promise!

Hello Ladies,

As you know I'm a new transitioner. 14 months post perm but committed to going natural for 30 days. I posted this in response to another transitioners question, but figured I'd add it to my journal. Let me know what you think. Suggestions or things I should try or stop doing. This is my hair regimen:

Sunday - Cowash or shampoo (shampoo every other week) and deep
condition. I'm currently using HEHH for cowashing, Nexxus Therrape for
shampoo and ORS Mayo (with an egg) for deep condition. I bag my head for
an hour or so. (This week I plan to substitute ORS Olive Oil
Replenishing Treatment Pak because I really don't like the mayo and I'm looking for a DC.) After
deep conditioning I put in SheaMoisture Curling Milk as a leave-in,
seal with an oil concoction (EVOO, Jojoba, rosemary,Aloe Vera Gel and castor oil).
Then I style with SheaMoisture Smoothie for 2 strand twists which I
loosen in the morning with EVOO oil. (I set my twist on permrods and sit under the dryer).

My twist only last two days so by Wednesday evening I cowash with
HEHH, put in my Giovanni direct leave-in, seal with lots of oil, let it air dry
until about 80%, put my hair in large plaits and bag it overnight. I
usually spray some TW Protective Mist Bodifier to detangle if it starts
to tangle before I braid. (I love this stuff and I look for
opportunities to use it.)

The next morning I wet my head with my spray bottle (In the bottle is
water, glycerin, oils, and a little Nexxus Humection conditioner). I use
a little more TW Protective Mist for combing. I use more
Giovanni Direct Leave-in. I seal the ends with oil and use ECO Styler
EVOO gel to create a ponytail. I wear the ponytail 2 days. I love the
results I get doing this. The products seem to work perfectly to give me
the look I want. Nice, shiny ponytail with a good slick hold.

I'm usually cowashing again by Friday night or Saturday morning. I
put in my Giovanni leave-in, seal and put in Africa's Best Shea Butter
Plus (I am going to make my own shea butter) and I just kind of have a
wash and go look (hot mess actually) or I use gel to slick my hair down
and put on a ponytail or half wig if I'm going out.

If I'm ambitious I do a 2 strand twist on Friday night so I look like
something on Saturday (that again involves the Shea Moisture products).


This week I plan to not use the Shea Moisture products. I will use my
Giovanni Direct Leave-in and ORS Lock and Curl for my twist outs to see
if I have better hold. I love the way Shea Moisture makes my hair feel,
but my hair is a little frizzy and by day two the twist out looks like a worn out
hair-do even if I retwist before bed. Nothing saves my style, so, I'm
on to other products. Some of this could be styling. I'm no good add.

This week I'll probably substitute something other than HEHH for
cowashing to compare my results, especially since I'm not in love with
the slip I get from HEHH. I've been using it more than 2 weeks so I
think that's long enough to evaluate it and move on to something else.

My PJism is getting the better of me. I'll probably get Yes to Cucumbers Condish if I can find it at Ross today. Time to compare something else to the Giovanni Direct Leave-In.

If anyone has suggestions to me on my regimen - PLEASE feel free to make
them.

I am planning to try Suave Humectant and I'm also looking for a cone free Shampoo.

I had a fabulous hair week. Truly fabulous. I shampooed with Nexxus Therrape (which I won't do again- I hated that stripped feeling) and then DCed with Nexxus Humectin. I used my Giovanni Direct-Leave in (I am loving this conditioner) and then did something I hadn't planned to do. I took some of my natural shea butter melted it a bit (double broiler style) and combined it with some of my oils and used it to seal my ends. I let my hair air dry to damp and then I did a 2 strand twist out with ORS Lock and Twist gel and set it on perm rods. Alot of perm rods. I sat under the dryer.

The next morning I had a great results. My hair was not as soft and moist as it was with the Shea Moisture Smoothie, but talk about a nice hold. I wore that twist out all week. I could still have it in today if I wanted to. It held so well. I did so some retwisting on Wednesday and Thursday night. I twisted about 1/4 of my head on both nights mostly in the front. I didn't wet the hair. I just put oil on it from root to ends and put more ORS on it and I loved the results. I may do my twist out dry.

The only thing was my hair was really dry by Wednesday. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I see people talking about not manipulating the hair so I wasn't sure if I needed some kind of spritz or something. I still don't know. I put a little oil on my hands and smooshed it in. But by Friday, I was concerned about breakage, so I cowashed Friday night with my new conditioner - Yes to Cucumbers. I also used it as a leave-in. I am in love with this conditioner too. Nice feel.

Here are some pictures.


I love my curls. I look forward to seeing what it looks like after I chop.


After washing. See how different the lengths are. It's all broken off in the front. That's why I'm here, going natural.


Here I am the next morning before I loosened. Tight curls.


After I loosened. I love it.


Day three. Getting dry, but still looking good to me.


Day Four. I decided to go with a headband. I've moisturized a little. I love this look. I decided not to loosen anymore (you know separate more strands). I was concerned I'd make a mess.


Cute little head band.


Those curls are snapped to my head.


Morning of Day 5.

As you can see, a good hair week. I am definitely ready for the BC. I mini chopped a little over a week ago and since I've been kinda sporting a short afro all week with the twist out and not feeling anything but pride about it, I think I can do it.

I'm going to use less rods this week and try to accomplish a looser look.

I'll be back with more pictures.

Question for any veteran naturals who may read - should I have a hair mist to moisturize it and if so what do you suggest? By Day 3 it was dry and Day 5 dry as a chip even with me smooshing in some oils twice a day. Dry equals breakage in my mind and there was a good amount of hair in the shower after I co-washed Friday night. I tried to examine some of it to see if it was breakage or shed hair. I did see some of the balls, but it's hard for me to see that stuff. I try not to strain my eyes. I might need a magnifying glass.

New products - Yes to Cucumbers and Giovanni Tea Tree Treat. I also used my new Denman brush on Friday night. I hate it. I'll use it for styling. I prefer my wide tooth comb. I don't have a problem with tangles right now so I'll just use what works.

I still need a DC. I'm trying the ORS Replenishing Pak tonight.

Hi Renny! Your hair is so pretty and curly!! Love it!!

I think you're right to dc when your hair feels dry. I tried that ORS Replenishing. It was nice. Don't know why I stopped using it...

Well I just washed and DCed. I tried my Giovanni Tea Triple Treat. Yuk. I pre-pooed and that felt worse than the Nexxus shampoo last week. My hair felt like straw. I should have just cowashed, but I had so much product in my hair (ORS lock and twist and then ecostyler gel) that I felt maybe I needed to shampoo. I won't be using this very often and I guess I need to stick to my original plan of shampooing every other week instead of weekly.

I DC with ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Pak. I liked very much. The smell is different but pleasant. Citrusy like oranges. I liked the way it felt in my hair, because I love heavier products, but I can't say my hair felt great after I rinsed it out, but looks made up for the lack of softness. My hair was shiny. I mean glossy like a Jheri curl. I was impressed. I'll definitely use it again next week. The PJ in me wants to see if ORS has a leave-in conditioner that it might work well with.

I put in my Giovanni Direct Leave-in and of course my hair became soft. So I'm going to seal with the shea butter and oil mixture I made last week and do a twist out with ORS Lock and Twist again. This time much bigger sections, because I'm and if it doesn't look great or last I can just do my hair again midweek, especially since that dryness had me concerned by Thursday.

Thanks Natty. I read your hair story a few minutes ago and what a tough time you had. I know you're glad to have finally found out what was going on with your hair follicles.

Your hair is gorgeous and you have such nice length.

It's funny how we do that. Like something, but still move on to something else. It's a woman thing I think. I do it all the time and then go, why'd I stop buying that?

Hmmm, I figured out why my twist out was so close to my head. It's a rollerset twist out. I set it on permrods, dry with the permrods and sleep in the permrods. I just watched a Youtube video where a young lady did two strand twist and didn't use perm rods. She dried and then put silk sponge rollers on the ends to sleep. Her hair looks the way I want mine to look. I'll try that next.

How do you like the ORS Lock and Twist gel? I've been wanting to try it for a while now...

I like it Ebbz. It has wonderful hold, wet or dry and it doesn't flake. It washes out easily and I like the ingredients. Nothing really bad.

Welcome to Curl Street Renny!

We've got similar problems with our hair (badly broken in the front), and what I have found works for me when I want a bun is to do a side part and clip the broken hair on a side, rather than slicking it straight back. Maybe you could try this and see if it works for you?

Your curls look so cute! I can't wait to see what you look like when you BC.