Come To My New Blog

For my latest updates come to my new blog: http://vnatural.wordpress.com/

Its a fresh start for me 🙂

-Jazzie

A New Blog? For More Than Just Hair

I really do like this blog and I have posted a lot of things that I can go back and check myself but I have been thinking in the back of my mind about having a new blog.  I mean the main reason behind me creating this blog was to track my hair journey and right now, theres so much more going on with my life than “just hair”. Thats the main reason I barely post here but I post on my tumblr because Im at a point where its no longer about hair and Im currently at the phase where Im done with research and I’m learning about my hair on my own instead og “googling” all the answers or asking someone instead of finding out myself. So I think I will begin working on a new blog and once I get it flowing correctly with posts.

-Jazzie

Natural Hair Inspiration!

Motivation to Work out!

When you workout don’t be lazy. Go in hard and hard. Do the best that you can do but at your comfort. Remember, its your body and only you can change it. While those others are doing whats fine with them, do whats fine and good for you. Don’t be afraid to take that step.

– Jazzie

Hair Journey Update: Damage From Dye & The Past..Recap

Well its been a long time since I have updated about my hair journey and hair growth goodness I dont know where to start or where I left off so I will just start by telling what I remember and whats going on right now.

Over the months of this year I dyed my hair 3 times. The final time in May, I finally got the results I was looking for which were red. For the month on June I basically went without my Texturemenatural products so I really was not on top of moisturizing my hair like that.

Fast forward to July I finally received my texturemenatural products and began to moisturize my hair. I then noticed that the roots of my hair were healthy but the tips would not take in any moisturizer and my hair was shedding like crazy. I mean I lost A LOT of hair! I was getting ready to take photos of my hair at the time to update my blog so I began detangling it with my wide tooth comb. Let me tell you, I have NEVER had such a hard time detangling my hair in my entire LIFE and it wasn’t even as long as it originally was. Hair was falling EVERYWHERE after detangling all of my hair it was STILL TANLGLED!! So I braided it down and washed my hair with acv (Apple Cider Vinegar). (I got some of the apple cider vinegar on my face and I broke out like a motherf*cker the very next day.) After I finished with the acv I put some  leave in conditioner in my hair and the conditioner wouldn’t take to my hair either. It took to the roots but not the ends. Here is a photo of how my hair was looking.

So I went to the internet I did a little research and asked some questions. I did a little something with some tea to revive it but it did not work. At first I thought all I needed was some dusting of my ends because I hadn’t cut my hair in a looong time. But then as I began to cut my hair in sections I realized that I had dyed my hair so much that the ends had been damaged badly. The only reason I knew this because my ends were like that throughout my hair. If it were something else all of my ends would have been split or shedding so much. So after cutting my hair I began to de-tangle it again, it was simple as pie!

Unfortunately I do not have any photos of how my hair looks after the trimming but I definitely took a huge step back growth wise. I had to cut of about HALF of my hair. I went from shoulder length to mid neck length hair. Now I know that I am completely done with dying my hair. Plus the only reason I wanted to dye my hair was so that I could see how much my hair is growing and I got that. So there is no need for dying the rest of my hair. Besides by the time my hair reaches a certain length I’m pretty sure the hair that I had dyed will be gone due to me trimming my ends. So I’m not worried at all.

Right now I braiding my hair in big box braids, about 35 braids using kanekalon hair. Oh and ALSO as I was braiding my hair and sectioning it I found something out! I have more than one texture in my hair. That’s answers my question I kept to myself “Why does my hair in the middle of my head take to moisture more?” And the reason why is because its a different texture. I’m not sure what texture it is but the curls are a lot bigger than 4c. The photo I have of them really doesn’t show how curly it is…maybe when my hair grows a little longer I can show it more.

But overall I am very happy with my hair journey. Since this is just a hair journey update I wont tell about anything else I would include how I’m feeling and where my mind set is right now in another post probably for tomorrow morning.

Below are photos of ALL of my progress since November 2012. From my day after my big chop of struggling with high porosity hair to seeing growth to finding the perfect regimen for my hair and lessons learned. I can’t wait until Novermber 2013 so I can compare photos and see my growth. Even though I had to cut my hair I know its A LOT longer than what it was when I started.

-Jazzie

—————————————————-
http://tinyurl.com/journeytolong

Natural Hair Inspiration Marathon #14

This is the last photo for tonight of my natural hair marathon…hope the people who saw the photos enjoyed them. Goodnight!

-Jazzie

Natural Hair Inspiration Marathon #13

Natural Inspiration!

Transition or Big Chop: Best Websites To Get Advice

I’ve searched many places to get advice and there are plenty of groups and websites dedicated to black women and helping with giving advice, tips, how to’s, etc..

Now I know of places like lets say for instance a page on fb named “Black Women with Real Hair“, that have plenty of people signed up for the page and who comment on it but they mostly post photos and off topic subjects  Not much advice is given there. So  I would NEVER recommend that place to anyone unless you are looking for some photos of natural/relaxed hair plus the page owner has a bad habit of “making fun” of people.

So the places I am going to provide you with are places I feel are PACKED with information and advice that I currently go to..

1. Texture Me Natural :This is a FB (Facebook) page run by one person and she sales ALL natural scented products that you can buy (which I have bought myself and its THE BOMB DOT COM!!). The reason why this is at the top of my page is because you could just scroll down this groups pages and find out SOOOOO much information about being natural and techniques  I mean this group’s information its self could run circles around EVERY place I’ve visited. Not only that but if you have a question and you submit it, the owner will re-post it and have other people answer your question. Their suggestions are usually always on point and the page owner has some beautiful hair, to die for healthy hair. Love this page. (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Texture-Me-Natural/194003070625953)
2. Naptural85: This is a Youtube Guru. The reason why I recommend her is because her videos date from when she had short hair until now. She gives great advice not only that but her videos are clean and simple. Very easy to understand and she has a nice energy.
3. Natural-Hair-Care-Info(FB page)/Natural Hair Care (Website): This is a fb page that I absolutely love. It includes a few family members (brother and sisters). The main page owner is one of the older sisters. She has a little sister with very long hair that she regularly posts (I believe her name is Bunny) and a little brother that she posts time to time. She also posts photos of herself but she looks so much like her little sister I thought for the longest they were the same people lol. I love the styles that they shows and how lovely and long Bunny’s hair is, very inspirational. Not only that but if you go to their website it is packed with useful tips. I learned how to properly wash my hair from their website. (https://www.facebook.com/Natural.Hair.Care.Info?fref=ts)
4. MyNaturalSistas: This is another YouTube Guru channel but the difference is it is ran by 3 different women, I think they are all sisters or related. But this channel is great because you get advice from 3 different women and techniques. My favorite person on this channel to watch is India. She goes into depth about her weight loss journey and she has the longest hair out of the 3 of them.
5. Kink Curly Coily Me!: This is a FB page owned by the owner of kinkycurlycoilyme.com, she’s been featured in magazines, hosts natural hair events, goes to events, has a youtube channel, etc. The ONLY reason why I recommend this page is because she usually links everything she does to this page. So if she uploads a new video on Youtube she lets you know on this page. She also updates you on her newest products, her hair photos and what she is eating. I like her attitude too, most page owners get mad if people disagree but she is completely fine with it. She also reposts some of the questions submitted but not all of them. (https://www.facebook.com/KinkyCurlyCoilyMe?fref=ts)
6. BlackHairMedia: If you have read some of my previous post then you may know that I have mentioned blackhairmedia a few times, so why is it number 6? Well the reason why is because this place is not only about natural hair, it has different subjects too most women come their for weave or full lace information which the women up there…sometimes they respond sometimes they dont, a lot of them are reluctant to even help. BUT if you want to know about natural hair then you would have to go to the “Natural Hair” part of the forum. Once you do go to the natural hair side of the forum you will notice that the posts with the most information are older posts and sometimes you have read 10 different posts just to find what you are looking for. I must admit I don’t really visit this site THAT MUCH but I did find out about giving my hair a protein treatment just by using peanut butter from this forum and they have great recipes so..my props to the recipe side is always on point. (http://forum.blackhairmedia.com)

So off the top of my head these are the main websites that I would recommend. Hope these links help anyone in need. If I think of anymore websites then I will post them.

-Jazzie

Black History Moment…Inspired by the movie “The Help”

I know I have not posted anything regarding black history on this blog and although it has crossed my mind…I still did not. So I decided to post something regarding black history for the last day of the month:

A few days ago, I just happened to watch the movie “The Help”. The movie was never appealing to me nor did I have any…motive to truly watch it but something just said,”Give it a chance and watch it.”  I can truly say I am glad I did watch it. It reminded me that being a black woman has so many things to it. As a black people and “colored” people we had to earn our place in society. We had to beat the odds and the hatred and fight for our place. So much of that is taken for granted. I think the strongest message I got from that movie was..Things will never change unless someone bring upon that change or idea. Don’t be afraid to want something that is different from everyone else’s idea or ideal. You want change and at least try to make change in order for something to happen and sometimes all people need is a tiny push to motivate them to jump on board for something greater.

With that being said, I would like to say that my heart goes out to everyone/anyone who has taken a chance and stood out for a better cause and even has lost their life trying to fight for a better cause even if you weren’t the ideal person or race that should have fought for it.

It brings so much joy to me to be able to say I am proud to be a black woman. There were times when I wished or even said that I was not black. I’ve been called some racist and horrible names for speaking my opinion, telling the truth and just appearing as I am. I’ve been teased  for having the skin color and hair that I have but I still smile. After going through what I’ve been through…even the racism faced from being in a interracial relationship from my exes family and the people who looked at us as if we didn’t belong. I truly can say that, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m happy to be black and I want to be someone who makes a difference but under my terms and no one else’s. So happy black history month everyone.

Sincerley,

Jazzie