Kea::Curls

That puff is fab chica! And make-shift headbands are priceless!

aww.....thanks for all the compliments & muchos gracias!

Well, today...i wanted to talk a little bit about my family & their reactions to my BC. My mother and one of my little brothers live about 3 hours away from where i go to school (but i really only see them on special holidays and such). Then, my father and 2 other brothers live in VA with my stepmom. Nevertheless, none of my family members have seen me since i chopped off all my hair. I also did not tell any of them while I was transitioning (mostly because I hadn't completely made up my mind and wasn't sure myself).

Soooo....the day i cut my hair, i did send my mother pics through email &&& she called me over the phone freaking out (literally screaming in shock). She personally took care of my hair from birth through middle school and even gave me my first relaxer at 5 yrs old. BUT she's used to me making my own decisions (i.e. buying a moped/scooter, getting a puppy, getting my 1st apartment, etc.) So she complimented me on it, reminded me that taking care of natural hair is "different" and "to be careful." Overall, i think a pretty good reception, right?

That being said, i have been absolutely 100%, undeniably, dreading telling my father. HE HATES WHEN I CUT MY HAIR. I remember when i was little and my hair would be styled w/shirley temple curls...he'd get mad @ my mom (thinking she cut my hair). When I started getting hair cuts & cute styles in college, he'd always shake his head in disbelief and give "weird" compliments, like "i'm glad you like it." Not too mention I'm 110% "my Daddy's little girl" & can't stand disappointing him. Especially, since I barely get to see him now...that just adds to the pressure.

Well, I'm going to see him for Christmas in less than 2 weeks...so I figured I should prepare him now. I finally sent him some pictures through email yesterday, explaining my goal to obtaining healthy, 100% natural hair. I didn't get a call from him all day...so I got worried and called him myself. When he talked to me, he seemed calm and said he "never liked that my mom put that stuff in my hair anyways." That's all he said! He's such a man.

But i guess i'm relieved, as it could have been much worse. I'm not sure if he likes it. He didn't say otherwise. So...that is all!

Peace &&& much love to ya!

we know how dad's are!! (very few words) but he seems like he's okay with it if you're happy with it!!! I'm sure he'll like it even if it takes him a while to get used to it.

hope you enjoy your holiday with your family!

Well I would take that response a positive. At least you soften the blow for when he sees you in person. How are you gonna wear your hair? Have you thought about it yet?

I still have not seen my 90 year old grandmother since I BC'd. She does not hold her tongue.

I agree with Lynnieluve, take it as a positive. When I BC'd my father's reaction was, "It's so nappy!" I retorted, "Yep that's how it grows out of my head naturally!" He hated it! My mother said, "Are you gonna at least comb it?" When I explained that it was a "wash-n-go" she insisted that I sit between her legs as she "greases" my scalp and combs my napps so that I at least look presentable! I politely DECLINED!

Keep us posted on the various reactions!

--Reese

Hey chicas!

--> i realized that yesterday marked the end of the 1st month since my BC!!!

i can't really do a growth check (not sure where i started out), but I've mostly been focusing on learning how to retain moisture. This has always been an obstacle for me, even w/my relaxed hair. i know that once i have this down, then the growth will naturally come.

Anyways, here are some comparisons...

The 1st one is after my very first co-wash. I was just using V05 as my co-wash, HE Hello Hydration to detangle & then V05 + Sunsilk Captivating Curls as my leave-in (i no longer use Sunsilk). I was using Cantu's version of Olive Oil as my sealant.

Then*

Now*

Today i co-washed with Suave Coconut, detangled w/AOHR, used V05 as my leave-in &&& sealed with an EVOO + Castor Oil mix.

After I BC'd, i could see my edges better & also noticed that they were very thin on my right side. Since then, I have been oiling my scalp with Castor Oil 2x a week to help fill in that area. Here's comparison shots for that, too:

Then*

Now*

So...overall, I'm pretty happy! I think my hair looks (and feels) much more moisturized & my edges are even coming in You'd think that I would take a picture of my length stretched out (to compare for next month) but i didn't. lol. Maybe i'll start worrying about that around months 3 or 4...

You are making great progress, your curls are beautiful!!

thanks tamren!!!

@lynnie: i'm not sure how i'm going to wear it for the first time. i'm "the best" @ wash n gos, lol. but i'd really like to try a (successful) twist out~

Wow your hair is truly gorgeous! It looks like it grows quickly as well!

-Reese

@ chrs - i really do see a difference in how my hair reacts to natural products (especially oils!) so much better

@ reese - gracias!!! yes, its always been pretty fast growing, but prone to breakage (or maybe that was just me treating it badly) ...so i'm really trying to be careful this time around!

Sooo beautiful people...

for today i am wearing my 2nd day wash n go, i refreshed w/VO5 + water+ oil spritz this morning. there's not really too much to talk about. i'm just counting down till tomorrow morning when the last of my exams will be over. i hope you all have a great day &&& enjoy the forums! (wish i could...)

WOW!! Your hair grows fast! I love your curls! Good luck and congratulations on your last exam!

I'm diggin' the curly 'fro. It is too cute!

HI everyone i'm glad to say that...

I'M FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

my exam this morning was a beast, but i'm content knowing that i did the best i could & now I'M FREE to sit in front on my mirror, and act like the hair-obsessed person i have slowly evolved into i can't wait to try something new! I think my BNB order should be in today, so i plan on making a shea mix &&& trying out some 2 strand twists i'm like a little kid at a candy store, ya'll...i don't know where to start!

HAPPY FRIDAAAAAAY

P.S. this means i will be able to visit &&& catch up on all of your pages again, too! It feels *oh so good* to be back

Congrats I just did my last one on Wednesday and I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad I'm done!

Congratulations to you both (Kea and Ms Puddles)

@ Kea - Enjoy playing in your hair. Please share your shea butter mix. Remember when you do your two strand twist, small section is the key. And you know we want to see them when your done.

CONgrats Hun! Oh I remember those days!!!! Thank God its over!! Only to start again soon!! ITS ALL WORTH IT THO!!! HAIR TIME!!

Your hair from when you first started out til now look gorgeous!! i also have thin edges but since going natural I can tell that they are finally filling out!! Its good that ur not length obsessed but more or less fascinated by how healthy you can get your hair to be. Good luck 2 u on journey, I will be following !!

Congrats, your hair looks soo much more moisturized and curly. Beautiful!!!!

your puff looks fab! and I think wearing the knots out is just fine!!! heck folks are going to stare anyway. STrut and give them something to look at!

your curls look healthy and beautiful

I love your curls. Very cute.

ur hair is growing sooooo fast!

Hello ALL

I have been without internet access for about one full week now! Isn't that just crazy? Needless to say, i jumped at the chance to come visit the site again!!!!

As far as Christmas updates...i haven't been doing as much experimenting with my hair as I wanted to. I did try a twist out (2x now) on wet hair...but I didn't too much like it. I used Organic Root Stimulator Lock & Twist gel (to try and keep the twists from unraveling) but it was just SOOO sticky (yuck!) that I washed my twists out before they were even dry. Prior to that, I twisted just by sealing with olive oil...but the twists kept coming undone! I'm thinking about trying again sometime this week...

more importantly, this winter break has turned me into...::dun dun dun:: a PRODUCT JUNKIE !!! I went to TJMaxx for the first time in forever (we don't have one where i live). Low and behold, i found enormous bottles of Giovanni, Nature's Gate, and EO Products! I was in heaven I had heard so much about these natural products, i knew that I just had to give them a try.

****you know you have a PJ problem, when driving through a new town &&& seeing a Walgreens excites you!!! I picked up some more Organix Conditioner (on the BOGO sale, along with two other natural products that I can't remember the name of right now).

***you also know you're a PJ, when you travel with so many conditioners, it causes your luggage to be considered [overweight] for air travel. I had to check two bags, one specifically for all of my hair toys~

Right before leaving for winter break, I also received my shea butter and aloe vera gel from Butters N Bars. Right now, I"m traveling with my shea butter mixed with olive oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil, and a little bit of castor oil. I absolutely love it!!! I almost feel like my hair dries faster too, could this be because of the "sealing" powers of the shea butter?

Well that is all for now...I'm off to visit your lovely pages! Enjoy your holiday

I had to do some catching up!! but I LOVE your curls, the knot out results were absolutely AWESOME!! the before and after pics show tremendous growth! Your are doing fantastic with your hair. I am very pleased with your dad's reaction. I tooo think that was positive..so you go!! Thank good exams are over..njoy your winter break and don't spend ALL your money on hair products *gigglin*