hair_journal

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My Napptural Journey

July 9, 2003

I have HIF disease. HIF stands for Hands in Fro. I love touching my hair. It’s soft and cottony feeling. Have you ever played with a cotton ball? You smash it in and it bounces back. You stretch it and it comes back in. That’s my hair. It’s has shrinkage. My permed hair never felt like this. Sure I could run my hands through it, but it didn’t have texture. It didn’t have a personality of its own. It looked like every other person with a relaxer – straight. I am wearing cornrow braids in the front and a afro in the back. This will be my signature style unitl I tire of it. I really have a hard time keeping my hands out. I wasn’t planning on adding an entry today, but I had to say this. I'm loving my naturally nappy hair.

I wore the two strand twists for five days. Some of the ones in the back kept coming loose. I tried my first twist out. I didn't come out like I thought, but I didn't let that stop me. I sprizted the front with water, put on a little Proclaim Gel, brush it down with my demnam brush, and added a headband. Viola! Bad style turned good.

July 28, 2003

Another long lapse between updating and I have so much to write about. I didn’t take pictures of my cornrow and fro. There will be a next time I’m sure, I really like that style. Transitioning was the best thing I could have done. I learned what my hair likes and kept that in mind since I’ve cut those relaxed ends off.

My routine is still pretty much the same. I shampoo and style once a week. I refresh the style with my African Royale Daily Doctor Leave In. I tried my hand at the no poo method. I am using the Alberto VO5 Kiwi Lemon Squeeze Clarifying Conditioner. I liked the results.

I did two conditioner washes last week. I tried my first shake and go. I used the Black and Sassy Creamy Set. I didn’t like the feel of my hair when it dried. Mid week I rinsed with the conditioner and this time used the Proclaim Gel with my ARDD leave in conditioner. I liked the results slightly better than the B&S. I'll have to keep trying for a shake n go product. The ARDD leave in actually leaves my hair soft when I don't use one of those mentioned products.

My style for the week: a shake n go afro puff. I did a deep conditioning treatment. I haven’t had one since I cut my hair. I used Lustrasilk Cholesterol Aloe Vera and my New Wave Bonnet. What’s that?! My wonderful discovery from my local $1 store. You attach it to a blow dryer and you have a soft bonnet hair dryer. I needed a use for my blow dryer since it has been collecting dust last lately. I air dry. I don’t intend to use direct heat. I used my proclaim gel and a boar brush to lay down my hair, then came the scarf for 10 minutes, next I used my trouser sock head band, and lastly I used two head bands. One for the front and one for the back. Whew! My first puff. I'm loving it. To maintain, I used a satin scarf to tie down and the put on my satin bonnet. Spritz with ARDD.

A moment of reflection: I looked in the mirror the other day and thought to myself. This is how I was intended to look. I love it. I don’t think I can say it enough. I wish I could convince everyone to put down the chemicals and the heated styling products. They just aren’t necessary and are very damaging to our beautiful kinky hair. I haven’t had a moments regret. I look at women with long straight hair and think, when will they wake up. I know that’s how I felt. Perming my hair was like a learned behavior that I one day questioned and realized that it was not a necessity of life.