Any 3c Big Sisters available?

Hi! I'm looking for a 3C big sister who can provide some guidance. I previously ran into the arms of a relaxer (yeah, it was that serious! lol) 5 years ago because I was extremely frustrated with constant dryness and spending 45 minutes detangling my hair every week! I BCd 6 months ago (profile photo is current length) and want my hair to be as long as it was in this photo,:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y8RHtFocRQVHis9uTJIPBwuI65A4zupLY-81izzAwB8?feat=directlink

but just not as dangled and drama-filled. I love being natural again and I want to be natural for life and not give up.

Thanks,
Kadian

Welcome to CN forums!

I am willing to help. I categorize my hair as medium in texture with "S" and "O" type curls. Grace, my hair's name, is dense and has normal porosity.

What can I do to help, should you accept it?

Lol, ChrsLvsBks. Thanks for reaching out . "Grace", huh. Maybe I should look into a name for mine.

The major problem I suffer with right now is a frizzy crown that is much coarser (but just as curly) as the rest of my hair. It's the first area to get dry and tangly and is really frustrating. So, I'm seeking some solutions. I don't know if you have a similar problem, but how do you deal with your crown texture?

My problem is porosity above my ears. Hair there soaks up any and everything very quickly causing my hair to frizz and dry out. I do my best to apply lots of moisture in the area and seal with oil (grapessed, coconut or castor) or butter (shea or mango).

Are you sure the hairs there are coarse? Feel one or two strands in the area and do they feel thicker than a frayed piece of thread? If so, your hair is coarse, if not, your hair may be fine or normal. I ask because knowing your hair's texture and porosity can help you determine what products or ingredients to look for to help combat frizz. Check out livecurlylivefree.com's Curly Basics for more information.

Thanks, I'll check out the site. I felt a strand on my crown and compared the feel of that to a strand near my name. The crown strand definitely feels thicker. I guess I'll have to pay extra attention to that area and perhaps use a different product just for my crown.

Thanks for your help, big sis

@ChrsLvsBks
I don't want to come off as as stalker, but I truly admire the care you've taken of "Grace". I've viewed you fotki pics and would love to gets some help to get my hair in such beautiful condtion as yours. I'm just in the beginning stages of trying to take the right steps as far as moisturizing, oils, hennas, co-washing . I'm not quite sure my true texture nor the porosity of my hair, so I will definitely take the advice you've given to Whatgetsonmytits in regards to gaining greater insight.

@ Whatgetsonmytits
Love the pic of your previous state of being natural. I'm sure with the advice of ChrsLvsBks and the many other naturals here we'll be on the right path soon enough.

@sanimani-- thanks! Now I'm just looking for a name for my hair. lol. I've been inspired by ChrsLvsBks' "Grace"

@ChrsLvsBks -- I am happy to report that I did the suggested reading on Tiffany's site . I examined strands of hair from the front sides, nape and crown of my head after a dry detangle (full strands with the bulb, no breakage), and the hair from my crown is visibly thicker and feels more substantial than my nape or front. So now I know that most of my texture is medium/normal, but the crown needs special attention due to its coarseness. I also started co-washing three days ago and now I'm addicted!!! I've just been putting my leave-in concoction on after the co-wash. But yesterday, I tried using a gel as well just on my crown and using my paddle brush to smooth the coarser strands in that area. It's worked pretty well...even with a little diffusing (was in a hurry)!

So THANK YOU!!!

Oh, btw, I love your fotki! Your hair is gorgeous and inspiring. I am going to try some protective styles soon. I've been rocking "wash-n-gos" for 6 months now since cutting my hair.

I can definitely attest to the usefulness of the livecurlylivefree.com site. I'm glad you were able to learn something from the read.

I hope you will share pictures of your WnGs and protective styles.

Thanks for visiting my fotki. I plan to update it in the next couple of weeks.

Aww, thanks! I definitely will share. I've started to make videos of my little experiments and taken lots of photos. I'll post them on the site when I get more comfortable...and organized.

Btw, I''m gonna go with "Penny" for the name of my hair

Holla chicas!

I hope you don't mind, but I've been looking for a big-hair-sister too and I hoped I could jump on the band wagon and ask for advice when and as it's needed.

I read ChrsLvsBks advice to whatgetsonmytits and looked at the livecurlylivefree site too and feel like I'm on my way to understanding my hair in a more meaningful way now.

I think of my hair as being a 3b/c mix, but that really just describes the type of curl and I had no clue about porosity. Now I think I've identified myself as a high porosity girly with a mix of fine, medium and course hair and I'm going to try out the honey and olive oil conditioning mix as my hair is very dry at the mo (I just did a henna treatment and sadly I am yet to see the amazing effects that are being bandied about by the other naturals in the blogsphere).

I was wondering if either or you ladies had any experience of baking soda cleansing or apple cider vinegar rinses?

Oh and btw, inspired by your own diva-ness in naming your gorgeous tresses I think I'll call mine Lolita! :-)

@MissSianP -- It will take some time to feel like you truly know your tresses. I was pretty clueless when I cam asking for help just a couple of months ago. I am by no means an expert but I have a much better handle on Penny these days. But I'm still discovering.

As for ACV and Baking Soda, I am not inclined to try them as they can both be drying in the long-term (based on what I've read). But some people have nice short-term effects.

What is your current regimen and staple products?