SisterBoyd

This coming March will mark 2 years of being natural and heat free. The only heat that I've used on my hair has been on an aphrogee and yes I was scared then ha ha ha!

My curls have come a very long way...

I was a faithful presser and I had a very close friendship with my hairstylist


But I could do my own hair and did it very well...


However, she did do her thing


...and with all of that heat I tore up my curls...

Welcome sister boyd. Congratulations

I started my natural journey not by choice, but because I had no other choice. I started taking care of myself by eating better and working out. I was able to make great progress for about a year and half. Going into the 2nd year my body changed and I started sweating like crazy, which wasn't good for a press. I would literally sweat in my entire head. My hair would be dripping wet. And I couldn't have a messy wrap...not me!

So I started researching the 'wet look' and crossed over to the natural side. I secretly always like the big, wild look. I was an undercover lover of the girls that had the big, free hair, but would never admit it openly. So it was no wonder when I was doing my research I would always be fansinated by the natural sisters with the big, fluffy, beautiful girls.

Little by little I bought a few products. I had to learn my hair and understand that I was transitioning from heat damage instead of relaxer. I had the most horrible straight pieces. But because of my hair issues and my self-esteem being tied to my hair doing a BC was out of the question. So I walked around with straight pieces for about a year.

This was Carol's Daughter Hair milk...it didn't work

Then, I discovered KCCC. It was my staple for a long time. I had to play with the amounts. I finally stopped using the Knot Today and replaced it with a mixture of glycerin and aloe.







As you can see there were a lot of straight pieces, but my hair was healthy. I used to have really bad dandruff - no more. My ends would get trimmed regularly and I cowashed like crazy. And I loved my KCCC because my hair would last a whole week without having issues with dryness.

I tried a few other products in the beginning...

Mixed Chicks...I so wanted this to be an afro


Then, I discovered Curls Whipped Cream. I love this stuff!


I started using the Curls Whipped Cream shortly after I had what was supposed to be my BC. I went to my son's barber who is a mixed woman. I thought she would be familiar with my hair texture and know how to cut it...WRONG!!!! Half way through the cut she got scared and stopped cutting! I gave her a guide of what I wanted and she said my hair was too long for her to cut it all off. So I walked out with extremely uneven hair and a bunch of straight pieces.

Now I was really frustrated! Eventually, I ended up cutting most of the straight pieces myself, making my hair even more uneven. However, I won't complain because now I can see my curls. I've waited so long that now I'm scared to get my hair shaped; which I need badly. I have a really short uneven patch in the front, top of my hair. The right back is very long while the left side is about 2-3 inches shorter. Some how I get it to look ok. I've trimmed it a few times myself. The last time I trimmed my ends was about a month ago because I felt I needed to handle my ends.

Wow, what a journey. Well welcome and have fun here

My second year of naturalness was a lot more productive. I discovered the products that work the best for me. KCCC is still a favorite, but not a staple anymore. Curls Whipped Cream moved from being a staple to what I used on my edges and on my twists until I ran out and I haven't purchased anymore.

I've been a hardcore fan of the Conditioner Only Method. Tresseme, Organix Shea Butter or Coconut Milk, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, or Giovanni Smooth as Silk or 50/50 are my staples. I use my mixture of glycerin and aloe underneath.

This past summer I had a serious issue with tangles and knots so I started doing my hair more than once a week. I shed a lot. For the shedding I use a garlic water mixture that seems to help along with detangling more often.

Now I have to work on those twists. I've made progress, but they aren't perfected. And I can't wear them out as I look a hot mess. This helped me to discover hats and scarves.

I love to prepoo. I preproo before every shampoo, which is once a month. And I have started prepooing sometimes before my normal cowashes. Also, I just recently did a bentonite clay treatment and loved it!

In regards to deep conditioners I was using Elastica QP DPR-11. However, after watching some of the reviews I decided not to repurchase because the ingredients aren't that great. Currently, I'm on the look out for a replacement. Until I find one I've been doing the natural food thing. A lot of honey, coconut, olive, avacado oils. I think my next DC will include coconut milk and something else. I haven't finalized my ingredients list yet. I doubt I'll use all of this...


Deep Conditioner

1. Amla powder or oil

2. Conditioner

3. Coconut Milk

4. Coconut Oil

5. Honey

6. Olive Oil

7. Peppermint Oil (2-5 drops)

8. Rosemary Oil (2-5 drops)

9. Sage Oil (2-5 few drops)

10. Yogurt (Plain)

Thank you Shee and Intelligent! I've been playing with the idea of starting this thread for a while and decided now was the best time!

Welcome aboard!!! I'm glad you've joined us!!

Love your thread!! I, too, was once a chronic presser....

Just cut off about 4 inches of straight pieces

But it's growing back!

Thank you ladies!

Curlie Cutes, its amazing how different our hair. Those straight pieces really fooled me into thinking my hair would never curl.

My twists...

These have been the hardest for me. At first I couldn't twist them to look like anything, but that was when I still had straight pieces. So just wearing twists was definitely out of the question.

My first twists were done with Root Stimulators Loc and Twist gel. The gel held well, but my straight pieces were so straight they didn't last.

Here is the twist out...not so bad, but I didn't know how to take care of it. Sorry for the poor quality of the picture.


My next twist out was several months later after I cut most of my straight pieces off. I can't find the picture, but they were a little better. However, I still didn't know how to take care of them.

I've tried about 3 or 4 more times since and they just don't come out right. I don't know if I'm expecting something that I shouldn't or if its my uneven hair length. I believe that my hair does better with creamy products for twists.

Here are a few pictures from my most recent twists. Still not 100% satsified...

I used Qhemet's Alma and Heavy Cream and Burdock Root Butter and left the twists in for about a seek

2nd day hair


This time around a moisturized my hair regularly paying a lot of attention to my ends since I have a problem with knots and tangles.

Hey Sisterboyd look at YOU! You're story is so interesting. I LOVE Bentonite clay I put it all over my hair and face and freak out my husband LOL! Smooth as Silk is one of my staples too. What do you prepoo with? And do you do it the night before? Do you deep condition after you prepoo?

Thank you Savvy!

I was using the DPR-11 with honey and coconut oil. Now I use a mixture of oils and honey. My favorite right now is avacado oil and honey. If I don't do it overnight I'll get up extra early like 3-5 am apply and then actually wash between 8-11 am or later depending on what I'm doing. If I'm on a schedule I'll try to leave it in at least a hour.

I always deep condition after I shampoo. If I prepoo before I cowash it depends if I'm doing conditioner only that day. Right now I have Carol's Daughter's Hair Smoothie and Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner and I will use those mixed together for my DC. If I feel like I'm extra tangled I may use those after a cowash as well.

I know I said I was on the look out for a new DC, but didn't mention the CD or MC. I can't say that I will purchase those again right away. I'm not opposed to purchasing them again, but I want to try something new and more cost effective. I would recommend both of those as DC's.

Hey sister Boyd- now this doesn't mean that you plan on leaving us over that the 35 club? Does it????

Your story was real interesting.

Great story ... SisterBoyd.

Happy Hair Growing

I would recommend using olive oil and coconut oil as a deep conditioner. Like I tell all the curlies.....that combo is the TRUTH!!!

Thank you ladies!

Lynn, I've done olive oil and coconut oil a few times in my prepoos. I really liked it.

Now I get confused when I hear folks talk about DC and DT with oils. Are you really meaning prepooing or hot oil treatments?

I put the oil in my hair and sit under the dryer 30-40 minutes.

Welcome and enjoy!!

Hey SisterBoyd...;-)

Thanks ladies!

Hey The_Ryl_1...are you ready for your mixes yet?

Today, I'm going to cowash in the shower. Its one of those lazy Sundays and I gave my bed some quality time today ;P

I'll cowash with the rest of my HE Tousled that I fixed (garlic water, oil mixture, glycerin, aloe) and some Suave. It will be my first time using Suave. I'm not sure what else I'm going to do to it. Most likely the conditioner only method, but not sure which conditioner I'll use. Last week I used Giovanni 50/50 for the second time and it wasn't as wonderful as the first time.

...will be back with the final results...

Hey sisterboyd, welcome to the challenge.

SisterBoyd wrote:Thank you ladies!

Curlie Cutes, its amazing how different our hair. Those straight pieces really fooled me into thinking my hair would never curl.

Same here... that is, until I saw that my roots were nice and kinky.... I still have a few straight pieces in there, but not enough where I would need to chop anymore (thank goodness)... but I'm with you--I'll be laying off the heat for a WHILE!