Big Sister

Why I went natural and what led to that decision?

This is my third effort at going natural. This time is the final TIME! I am more relaxed when I am a natural. Curling irons or a flat iron is NOT my kind of thing. My natural is so much easier to style! I am not good at styling, my straight hair. The very first time I went natural, was because my ex-husband told me I was his Jill Scott and he liked her look! I loved it. During our separation..I was trying to get a new look with my natural and got a haircut! BIG MISTAKE!!!!! It was shoulder length, at that time. The stylist, (unfamiliar with natural hair), basically gave me a low cut fade. I ran back to a perm for fear of a TWA. (teenie weenie afro). The last time (straight),my hair was short. I was so tired of the curling iron! This time, I ran back to my NATURAL, the hair that I am most comfortable with. Finally, I did the big chop and am happy with my look!

How long did I transition? The first time and second time I transitioned, I wore micros for about 6-9 months, then cut of the perm ends. This last time, I went natural, I transitioned for 4 mos. I went to a beauty salon to get coils and the stylist told me she couldn't do it on straight hair and commenced to giving me a BC! Talk about being un-prepared!

If you choose me as a Big Sister, I am available to to talk here on this thread and skype
(nylacoils).
My hair type is crazy! The sides (all around my head is 3c/4a combo) the middle section is 4b.
I can take up to 3 little sisters!

Nyla Coils

I would love to be your natural little sister! I have been natural all my life, but I need a little guidance. I have used too much heat for my hair to handle and now it is somewhat damage and I have crazy split ends. However I am afraid to cut of the ends. I know that it would be healthy for my hair but I am nervous.

I have 3c/4a/4b hair (is it possible to have all three?)

I would really apperciate it if you would take me on as your little natural sister.

Best regrads,

Tria

Tria- you got it! I would love to be your Big Sister!

Hi NylaCoils,
I would love to be your little sister if you still have room for one more

Hey Star! Yes, I do have room for one more!

What is your current regime? What stage are you in? Are you transitioning or natural?

Nylacoils,
Lets see where to begin......I haven't had a perm in over 4 years. Unitl recently I have been faithful salon goer and get my hair flat ironed every two weeks. All the perm is out of my hair but I notice now that I have straight pieces of hair here and there that will not curl. I guess I will have to cut this but I am not ready too just yet. The main reason I'd went to the salon was because I am scared of my natural hair. I know that sounds bad but I DO NOT know how to care for it. I don't know what products to use to keep it moisturized nor what styles to wear it in. I love this site because I can see what other naturals are using and see if it works for my hair. I bought a few products that I'd seen CurlyNikki use and this past weekend (Sat) I did the following:

1. I washed my hair with Giovanni sulfate free shampoo (to remove product buildup). I do plan to co-wash this Sat going forward.
2. I conditioned with Hello Hydration and detangled with Devacare one (didn't really care for the DevaCare one-my hair was soooo tangled)
3. I deepconditioned with Jessicurl weekly deep treatment. (I liked it)
4. I applied a Aussie hair insurance as a water based leave in.
5. I applied jojoba oil
6. I applied a cream based leave in (steps 4,5 & 6 were suppose to seal in moisture)

So the two things I am trying to incorporate with my hair regimne is the co-wash method and sealing in moisture (based on book Grow it by Chicoro). That was really my first attempt at the routine so I still have some changes to make. Can you see anything I can do differently? Maybe some product suggestions. Or anyother valuable information that you think will be useful to me as I learn how to maintain my hair.

Thanks!

Also can you tell me how to put a pic on my avatar? I saw your link on how to put a picture in your post but I can't figure the avatar out to save my life. LOL

go to profile
click on avatar
you will then see
on uplpad an avatar from your computer
click on choose file
The picture should be in the pictures folder -if you are adding it from your pc

I hope that this helps. If not then let me know and we will work through it
Your regimine looks great. One thing- are you documenting your journey through pictures ? You can use fotki. www.fotki.com
Through Words- there is the buttersnbars challenge, or starting a blog or journaling it a book.

Great thanks, I will try to load a pic when I get home. I do keep a journal just to keep track of the products I use and how my hair acted on a particular day. I do have a fotki account but have not gotten around to putting pics on it. I will very soon. I do take pics of my hair every day with different styles so I can reference back to them and see how they look on me.

I will continue to do the above routine for a few months and see if I can tell a difference in my hair. I am sooo tempted right now to get braids or a weave or something but that is just me trying to avoid dealing with my hair. I am trying to stay motiviated. I really am.

Star- I know the feeling- I am wanting to do the same thing! I like to not have to do my hair in the winter. In the summer, I dont mind a wash and go!

Hi NylaCoils,

I think my Big Sis is on Christmas vacation [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] , so I was wondering if I could get your help... PLEASE!!!

I am BCing tomorrow after only 3 months of transitioning!!!! I was supposed to do it last week, but I didn't take out my micros before my appt so I couldn't. I literally just took out my micros like an hour ago and have to go to work tomorrow. Have NO IDEA what I'm going to do with my hair!!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I am tempted to do the BC myself, but I don't want to mess anything up. After it's done I have no IDEA what to do with my hair. What moisturizer I should use, when to moisturize, when to wash, how to style, etc, etc, etc.... OMG!!! I am sooooo nervous and anxious and excited and scared to death all at once!!!

I have gotten mixed opinions from the people who I told I was going to do it!! After taking my braids out I know that it have to be now or never. I HATE taking braids out so I don't EVER want to subject myself to that again, and I don't have the money to get my hair done in transitioning styles, nor do I have the knowledge to do them myself.

OMG!! Please help me!!! Anything you can say would definitely help me to calm down because I am freaking out!!! Not regretting or second-guessing myself, just trying to figure out what in the world am I going to do afterwards?!?!?!?

Thanks!!!

girl- I am here reading this- dont want you to think - i am not going to respond- I hear your S_O_S!

Ok so first question is - how long is your hair. For work tomorrow, do a braidncurl. Wear it out and wear a hand band. After your BC,
I use VO5 for a cowash, I use Aussie Moist or Herbal Essence Hello Hydration or Totally Twisted for a leave in.

This is my hair with water and shea

http://public.fotki.com/Nyla-Coily/natural-hair/wetwshea.html

Apply shea butter to keep it moist. You are going to want to get a few spray bottles. These are also to keep your hair moist. Put conditoner 1/3 cup, water1/2 cup and olive or castor oil (3 tablespoons). Think Soul Glow lol

I am so sorry Koils hasn't been on- I guess she is getting her products ready.

Ok. (breathing a little easier) But I dont know how to braid.... [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
(Yeah, I know, I'm a sad excuse for a girl) I hear it all the time. Best I can do is twist strands of hair together on my daughter's head...

And I can never find shea butter... I always find it mixed with something else, like a lotion... where do you normally get your products from?

Ok so no shea butter- ! I get mine from the African Hair Braiders. I just call and ask if they sell shea butter and how much is it?

Do the twist out- Nikki has a tutorial

here:

http://www.curlynikki.com/2008/10/as-promised-t-n-c-tutorial-is-here-d.html

Thank you, I will try this and let you know how it turns out.

BTW, I my hair is longer in the front than in the back, I got it cut into a bob back in August... but it broke off REALLY bad right after I got it cut, which lead to my decision to NEVER relax my hair again... [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thank you!!! I will let you know when I get my BC. I would post pics, but don't think I can here... You are a life-saver!!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Ok- please post pics! Do you need me to send you the link on how to do that?

yes!!! That will be great!!!

I DID IT!!! IT'S GONE!!!! LOL!!! I LOVE IT!!! It feels great!!! YOu guys forget to tell me how GREAT I would feel!! LOL!!! Now the reall fun begins!!! I am sooo happy!!! Please tell me how to post a pic so you can see. I am so excited!!! I'm mad at myself for not doing it sooner!! LOL!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

Soooo, although I am REALLY loving my TWA and have had no regrets, sometimes I find myself thinking that I still have hair. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] LOL!!! I mean, its been a week and I still hesitate to lean my head back on something or put a hat on because I keep thinking I'm going to mess up my hair. It is too funny!! I caught myself patting my head instead of scratching it because I didn't want to mess up my style. LOL!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Right now, I'm ok with just moisturizing my hair in the morning and go, bt once it starts to grow out, are their any tips I should keep in mind to keep my hair healthy and happy? [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I am so happy that you are loving your "do"! It looks so pretty! Just remember to keep it moisturized. I usually do a trim about every 6 weeks. Pretty soon you will be wearing headbands and doing wash n goes for the summer!! WOO- hoo!!!!

Thank you so much!!! And I have never felt so beautiful. Every time my daughter looks at me she tells me how pretty she thinks I am. which really makes me feel even better, because she notices what I did for her!!!

Thank you all so much for your support!!!! My daughter and I both have gained more than you can ever know!!! Smooches!!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Congratulations on your BC Raniesaj!! It looks so good.

raniesaj- Once again- I am so proud of you! It does look good! I love it! have you developed (hih syndrome) hand in hair