TriniCherryPrincess

Hi! I'll try to make my intro short as possible.

I'm one of those girls who has never relaxed yet didn't take the best care of her hair. My mom groomed my hair until I was 11 or 12. Reaching those ages her knowledge for natural curls became too immature for me and I was teased by both blacks and whites in school. I started getting cornrows with extensions, but the upkeep was costly since they didn't last too long at a time. My cousin got married when I was 13 and as a junior bridesmaid I had to straighten my hair to fit in. I got my first hot comb press and loved it. It was a while later that I got another one (maybe 14 or 15) but since then I got my hair pressed year round until every summer time (I'm 22 now).
It wasn't until college that things with my hair went south. I put in my first color right before I left- without knowing about protein or deep treatments. I would party and sweat my hair out; being lazy I would apply massive amounts of heat to it to make it presentable again until my next salon visit. My hair used to be so thick and even now I haven't regained that thickness. The worst thing was when I wanted to get those "pretty little braids" (micros) for one summer. Ripped out most of the back of my hair.

The reason I found CurlyNikki is because I wanted to see if I could wear my hair naturally curly this past summer. I had a picture of a biracial curly girl in my mind....yeah, that didn't happen. I learned that this site is about embracing your crown of hair and this summer that is what I've learned to do. My last flat iron press was April 9, 2010. I didn't use heat again until one day earlier this month (had to blow dry), so it's been a heat-free summer for me. I would've started a journal earlier but I honestly didn't think I'd go through with it (my hair). I have about a month left before I go back to straightening but I thought I'd go ahead and create one anyway. I'll be back later to share what I've been doing to my hair.

P.S. So much for short intro

Hey Trini and Welcome to Curl Street!

krazy coils wrote:Hey Trini and Welcome to Curl Street!

Thanks!

Great story and Welcome to Curl Street!

Well, this summer I wasn't able to sift through different natural product lines due to finances. I worked with products such as Cantu Shea Butter, Hawaiian Silky 14-n-1, Aussie Moist, and Pantene Relaxed and Natural products.

I tried:
-braid-outs
-bantu knot-outs
-two strand twist-outs
-mini two strand twists
-wash n go [fail]

Seeing my hair curly beyond a few hours (in which it would get straightened or braided, etc) is interesting. I appreciate the care my mom gave my hair. I know what my hair is like without the flat iron. I never stuck with a regimen besides deep conditioning every week and protein treating once or twice a month. I honestly don't even know what kind of changes my hair has experienced! I guess I'll know how it fared growth-wise next month.

I've been switching between twist-outs and braid-outs. These past few weeks I've been doing bantu knot-outs. I've liked the results enough...
I'm not sure what else to say at the moment, but here's a picture


It was a bantu knot-out on 2nd day hair.

Ciao!

jlowman1 wrote:Great story and Welcome to Curl Street!

Thanks!

Welcome!!!

Welcome to The Street! ;-)

Welcome to curl street and your bantu-knot out is pretty!

@ Nattyblog, TheRYL1, and CocoEuro - Thanks!

Today I co-washed (with Pantene Relaxed and Natural Conditioner) and deep conditioned (with ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner) for an hour. After I rinsed it out I decided to see what my hair would look like if I air diffused it dry after finger detangling (with Cantu Shea Butter).
I didn't get it completely dry (but good enough)...my hair looks odd. That's the only way I can describe it. I'm starting to wonder if 75% of my hair is heat damaged.
Anyway, since it is slightly damp still I guess I will braid it up for a braid-out which I'll take out before work Monday morning.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
Ciao!

welcome to curl street and what a great story! i hope u dont have heat damage cuz ur hair is beeeeeeautiful.

@NubieNatty Thanks, and I hope I don't either! Ok, so I know I do have a little, but I hope it's not my whole head.

My braid-out was presentable today. I undid the braids with a EVOO & EVCO mix spread on my fingers...and I rubbed the braids down with that before I started.

I wonder how my co-workers feel about my hair? I've never worked a job with my natural curls before. There's only one other black employee besides myself, I believe she has a perm though. Just a random though.

Anyway, these pictures aren't from today but I liked the result of that braid-out even more than this one.



Sorry....I was being silly that day but these really are the best braid-out pictures I have (what a shame. I'll get better).

Ciao!

Hey TCP!

Have you tried the Twist n' Curl (Nikki's 'do)? It seems you have enough hair for it. Twist your hair...8-10...roll the ends. I bet that'll turn out nice for you...give it a shot!

(Check Nikki's archives for full instructions!)

TheRYL1 wrote:Hey TCP!

Have you tried the Twist n' Curl (Nikki's 'do)? It seems you have enough hair for it. Twist your hair...8-10...roll the ends. I bet that'll turn out nice for you...give it a shot!

(Check Nikki's archives for full instructions!)

I haven't tried it because I never got around to buying the rods. I will sometime soon though, good looks!

Today I wore 3rd-day braided out hair. After work I moistened (water and Aussie Moist) my hair and twisted it into a low bun. I plan to wear buns tomorrow and Friday. Then Saturday is my normal wash/deep condition routine. I will be protein treating too.

Ciao!

I'm a little late, but welcome to CS. I enjoyed reading your story. We all have been miss guided a little (well maybe a log) concerning caring of our hair. I guess your mom knew what she was doing. Not like most of our moms that permed our hair before the age of 6...LOL

I hope you don't have heat damage, and I agree you would look great with a twist & curl style.

KNH

@KNH - thanks. I really wish that we all had this great hair knowledge earlier. But better late than never.


I didn't end up wearing my hair in a bun today. When I took it out of the one I had it in last night it was so moisturized and nice that I left it out today. I will force myself to bun it tomorrow though. It seems to be good for my ends.
I would have joined the bun challenge I saw on here if I thought I could manage a bun every day for the length of the challenge.

Anyway, have a good night.
Ciao!

Saturday I washed, pt'd, & dc'd (with my usual, same as previous post). Then I detangled with Aussie Moist: fingers and large tooth comb. I parted down the middle and pulled my hair back into two banded ponytails (5 scrunchies each). I like the look. I was told that I looked like a 15yo. I don't mind because everyone thinks I'm still in high school anyway. I didn't band the very ends, like 1 1/2in. Instead I 2-strand twisted them with EVCO and EVOO and left them until the next day. I took them out and they were wavy/curly and silky.
I have them in still (3 days). I used a silk scarf to preserve (water and EVCO/EVOO at night). Tonight I'll take them out, just because. I guess I'll let it get wet in the shower then slather them down with Aussie Moist. Then I'll take them out and do a braid-out.

I'm heading to the salon next Saturday! I'm hoping to see some improvement after I get my hair done. I feel like I've been curly forever, haha.

When I took the banded ponytails out and did the braids I liked the results a lot. Aussie Moist is definitely my friend...and my EVOO/EVCO to seal. Nice hair all week.

It doesn't look like like I'll get to try the TnC before getting my hair done (sorry those who suggested it!), however I'm thinking that instead of going until next summer straight I may switch it up and rock curly styles in between. The TnC will be the first thing I try.
I also want to try the Bee Mine products (if anyone is willing to donate please PM me )

Right now I'm in a shower cap dc-ing. When I rinse out I will re-do the banded ponytail routine that I did this week. And that is all.

In other news, (for those who know about it) I'm bummed about not getting to participate in the West Indian Labor Day Weekend festivities in NYC this year. Because I decided not to do the parade and because my bf doesn't do clubs it looks like I will miss out on everything. I haven't been able to find anything else going on... O well, hopefully next year.

Have a great long weekend.
Ciao!

Got my hair done! Click Here For Pictures!

Sorry I'm late. Welcome TCP and the pics are great!

@ Hurricane Curly Thanks!


I didn't include this in my blog post of my salon visit but I know this would be appreciated here.

So the hair dresser definitely knew very little about natural curls! First off I told her that my hair is curlier in the back than in the front and that I haven't flat ironed or blow dried since April. She thought I was crazy and kept telling me that I had an uneven cut and why couldn't I see it. I think that's why she was asking so many questions about the cut I wanted. She kept telling me that she didn't know what it was going to look like.
Lo and behold- I was right and when my whole head was flat-ironed my hair was even. She was really surprised to see how long it was (about as happy as I was to see how it had thickened and grew longer ).
She's cool though and she did a great job on my hair. I just thought I'd share that.

Tried setting my hair last night in a Pin Curl Ponytail (see here ). Fail! I may try again tonight... When I get it right I'll post before and after pictures.

That's all for now. Loving my hair and wondering what my next move is with it and when.
Laterz!

Is there a reason that you straighten your hair so much? Do you prefer straight styles or is it just easier to maintain for you?

Like you, I have never gotten a relaxer, but I used to straighten my hair a lot. I had heat damage too, but it has since grown out. Now I only straighten my hair once or twice a year, and I actually prefer it curly.