Hello I am back!

Hello all,
Sorry I have been gone for so long! Haven't had the time to do posting in the last few months. Well first I got a job working with Monsanto, it's going great so far. Who says natural hair ain't professional like! lol Anywho, I am coming up on a year post relaxer in Feb!!!!!!! YAY! I am about 31 weeks post BC! I gotta say my hair is growing. I am due for a trim big time, I want it done by a hair stylist. I haven't had the time to go get one because I have to drive out to Chicago (3 hr drive). I will post some pics they are a couple months back.  As you can see there is some growth, my hair is a little longer now I will do another post with new updated pics.

Milwaukee Hair expo/ 3 week post BC and 20 weeks post relaxer

Hello,
Yesterday was the Milwaukee Hair expo. It was my first hair expo event and I loved it! There were ladies and gentlemen with all kinds of hair styles and texture. It was a beautiful site. I felt like I belonged! :) They had vendors for jewelry, clothes, hair and skin care products. Also along with classes teaching about the health of your body and hair. I went to a couple, one for preventing hair loss and one for what's in the products. Both were very informative.

I learned that products contain a lot of chemicals that are unnecessary. I knew about some of the ingredients were a no-no. But I didn't think about all the chemical ingredients were bad. I may try and go natural or just make my own products. Because there are products out there that claim they are natural but still sneak some kind of chemical in to their products. Did you know that certain products or ingredients are banned in most countries but the US does not ban it. That's because other countries knows the damage and harm it can cause to the people. I don't understand why SOME not all companies only care about the quantity instead of the quality! If you want to know what ingredients are banned and harmful just search it on the internet.

On another note, I just passed my 3 weeks post BC!!!!!! I can't believe it 3 weeks already! This weekend will make it a month since BC. My hair is growing pretty good. Still having trouble with moisture. I am trying different things to keep it moisturize. I may make some homemade recipes to help out. So far I've been using this Shea butter mix I made. I mixed it with Jojoba oil, coconut oil, and aloe vera gel and a little bit of glycerin. I see a little difference in my hair using that.
Well until next time! Have a blessed day!

What I learned so far/ 1 week Big chop anniversary

Hello Lovelies,
It's been 1 whole week since I've Big Chopped. It feels like it's been forever lol! In this whole week I've been researching on hair care for natural, and I happened to come across Kimmaytube and wow she has alot of information about hair. She has been natural since 1999 but didn't really start taking care of it until about 2008 since she has grown her hair from low cut to about mid back length.

What I Learned from her so far
I've learned a lot in the past couple of days. First off I learned about the pH in our  hair and what pH levels can do to your hair from different products. Our hair is about a pH of 4.5-5.5 (acid level) water level is a neutral balance of 7.0. (if you want to learn more about pH levels and balance and what pH is go to Kimmaytube here's a link http://youtu.be/yT9axA0A6_Q) Example of what products do to your hair. I am going to use a relaxer ex. Relaxers pH is about 11.0-14 (alkaline) so your hair is raised to alkaline level this is where the hair is broken down and made straight, to neutralize it you use a neutralizing shampoo that brings it back to its regular pH. This blew me away I never went into the science of what we do to our hair. Raising the pH can be damaging to your hair or even lowering the pH. I really suggest that you go to that video and watch the other videos related to it. Whether your relaxed or natural it is very informational and may help you take better care of your hair. Also she suggested some books to read called Grow it by Chicoro and Ultra Black hair Growth part II by Cathy Howse. I plan on getting these books by the end of the summer to read them.
Kimmaytube also has this leave in conditioner recipe that is pH friendly to the hair. I used it last night and I see somewhat of a change to my hair. Mind you that I still have scab hair (hair that was damaged by relaxers that is still growing through my scalp also researched this too!) so it may take awhile until my hair gets used to it.

My 1 week Natural Hair anniversary
LOL I know it's too soon to say anniversary but it feels like I've been natural for awhile now! So fair my hair has gotten better. Been using Shea moisture line (shampoo, conditioner, curl enhancer) and also Kinky Curly Knot today. I will use this for another week to see how my hair takes it. So far it seems like it's liking it. My hair is not as dry as it was the first day I cut it. I plan on buying more products to try when I decide on whether or not I like Shea moisture. I would like to try Beautifulbrownbaby product line (can find her on youtube) and a couple of others but can't remember their names at the moment. I also been buying earrings and hair flowers like crazy lately. And I have gotten alot of comments on them. Yesterday a stranger came up to me and said wow you are pretty! You know that made my day! In all my hair is doing pretty good so far. Can't wait until I get some length so I can do cute styles!

P.S.
June 26th I will be going to a Hair Expo in Milwaukee. Tickets are on sale for $15. The theme is Health is wealth! I am so excited to go and see other naturals and what they can do with their hair. There will be muscians, poetry speakers, class, vendors and speakers. It's going to be a fun filled day !
if you want more information go to http://milwaukeenaturalhaircareexpo.com/
Until next time HHJ!

Cellese

June 4th BC'd ( I did it)

So I am 100% natural and LOVE IT!

I bc'd june 4 2011. So here's the story, I was transitioning for about 4 months now. Everything was going good until last week. I had tons of hair coming out and my NG was so dry no matter what I did. I was contemplating on get it cut off, but had to go to Chicago to do it (live in iowa so not to many black stylist here nor natural hair salons). I wasn't so sure, so out of the blue a friend of mine wanted me to pick him up at the chi-airport (this was on friday). Of course I agreed then decided to see if there was an opening that same day I had to pick him up (this was on saturday) I was hoping there wasn't an opening because I wasn't sure about cutting it off yet. (I wasn't sure if i was mentally prepared for it) but turns out she had an opening. So i booked it and never looked back, My friends thought I wasn't going to do it lol. Proved them wrong.

Before Pic:

After Pic:

I love it, I feel beautiful more confident and just fierce! lol I never felt like this even when I had long hair. I guess it's because I had the confidence to cut it off and rock it short.

I have curly hair that are coily and tight, Does anybody know which hair type that is, I kind of assumed 3c/4a/4b texture in my hair. I will post texture shots one day.

Hope you guys enjoy!

More pics to come soon, and may start youtube my journey.

Hope I encourage people!

Love and Peace!

Update

Ok been gone toooo long. So much has happened in the past few months. Like to start of by saying your girl has GRADUATED I'm officially a college grad. Wow can't believe that it's been four years woot woot! Second I am 15 weeks post and I've decide....... To go natural yes I am for sure on my decision I've been wanting to go natural a few years now just never had the guts to do it. I will be transitioning for a few months in kinky twist then I will do the big chop. I've decided to do the big chop so I can learn my hair while it's short, and if I transitioned for a long time I think I would fail and put a relaxer in so doing the big chop gives me no choice but to stay natural.

In my 15 weeks I've seen my hair curl in a way I have never seen my hair do. Mind you I got a relaxer when I was eight and my hair was always pressed before then so I don't know my hair texture. I'm pretty excited to embark on this journey. I've been watching YouTube videos like crazy lol and on hairlista I've been adding natural friends. I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I big chop. I plan on the big chop in July. Well that's all I will be on here more now that I'm out of school. O yea I'm still job hunting and plan on going to grad school next year I pray that I will stay focused on that goal!

Hey!

update on hair, so I did relax 12wks i believe in Feb. It has grown almost touching APL. So on Tuesday I will be getting my hair done just flat ironed, and maybe bangs! I am about ten weeks post! I will be relaxing in the beginning of May before graduation day! I'm so excited yes will be graduating with a BS in Biology. Well more to come, I will try to be on here more!

Dry hair be gone!

Hello ladies,
Welcome to my blog to all my new subscribers! I am here taking you through my hair journey from unhealthy, dry, neck length hair to long beautiful healthy hair! So far I have reached about Shoulder length! yay me :)

Dry hair:4 weeks post
So my hair, well actually just my ends have been really dry. No matter what I did they would not hold moisture for some reason. I've tried trimming the ends, DC for hours, Hot oil treatment everything I could think of. So I decided to seek help from hairlista site, and I found the answer. My hair was porous, I needed to use something with acidity or pH control to help my hair. One of the suggestions was to use Apple cider vinegar (ACV rinse). I cowashed my hair, then ACV rinsed then I DC, with ORS replenishing conditioner with my Aphogee 2 min reconstructor. I did this for about 15 mins under a hair dryer. I rinsed it out and my ends were lovely! They held some moisture. I still need to do this probably one more time to keep my ends moist. I also started bagging my ends after I moisturize and sealed. So far my ends are liking it.

Next week I will be 5 weeks post. I plan on flat ironing my hair for Christmas. This will be the only time I will flat iron my hair this month. I plan on stretching my hair til my Birthday in March! (I'll be 22, man I am getting old lol) I'm trying to go to Florida for spring break so my hair has to be on point! I will be around 16 weeks post.

My goal for 2011 is to have APL (Arm pit length) by my graduation in May! Then to have BSL (bra strap length) by December 2011. We will see how that goes! Hope I reach those goals.

I will do a product haul of what I use on my hair now, either today or some other time. Until then Have a blessed day!

Relaxer at 12 weeks Post November 2010

So I decided to relax at 12 weeks because of an event coming up and I need my hair done. I let my mom put in the relaxer, and she was talking about how relaxers are bad for the scalp and stuff like that because she just watched good hair by chris rock. I was like I seen that but you need to know how to take care of your hair and scalp to be relaxed and maintain healthy hair. She didnt want to hear that. So when I let it air dried and then flat ironed and she saw how healthy and how long it gotten since the last time she seen it she was like oh what do you do to your hair. So I showed her the site and now she might get in to it. Then when I got back to school everyone was complimenting my hair and how long it got. I was showing off and doing the flip! lol So I am happy at my progress for the past few months I am finally SL almost APL. I plan on doing a relaxer in March around my BDAY! here are the pics

Why I've been gone

the past few weeks I've been grieving, my grandmother passed away nov 13th. She had cancer and was diagnosed with it last Dec. So she made it almost a yr even though the doctors said she wasn't going to make it after so many months but she did. I was at college in Iowa when I got the call that she probably won't make it in the next few days. So I hoped in the car and drove 20 hours to New Mexico. Where I made it just in time to say I love you grandma. When I saw her it wasn't the grandma I knew. I had some hope that she would get better. But from the looks of it I knew this was it. But I thought she would have a few days left in her. But she passed away the same day I got there. I had prayed that she would still be here when I got there just so I can tell her that I loved her. I am still in shock. It feels like she is just gone on vacation and she'll come walking in the door anytime soon. I cried that night she passed but I haven't cried since. I think when the funeral comes I'll probably break down and cry. I never had anybody this close die so this all feels too unreal. I just wish she made it to my graduation in May. It seems selfish to say that because she isn't in pain anymore. but i just wanted to see that proud look on her face knowing that her granddaughter is the first in the family to graduate from college, but I know she was proud of me she always told me so. On the other hand my grandfather is not doing well. They been together for 52 yrs. And I'm afraid he will not make it either due to heartbreak, But I will keep praying for him

Update

So I'm about 8 weeks post. Goal is either 12 or 16 still deciding when I will put my next relaxer in. So I did a length check at five weeks and I forgot to post it up. I put it up on hairlista though. so here was the blog:
http://www.hairlista.com/profiles/blogs/length-check-at-five-weeks
I'm going to ATL with BSU here at school this week. I plan on doing this technique again (read my blog on hairlista). Too much heat in one month but I can't look bad going to ATL! I finally have two followers I am very happy about that! I hope I get more followers in the future.

Til next time! have a blessed day!

Random post

I was just sitting here thinking why some women believe they are not beautiful. I know I used to think that at one point in time. But my reason was due to people used to call me names and stuff when I was little. i believe that every woman, young woman and girls are beautiful no matter how you look. Its your personality. That makes you even more beautiful. I was watching true life. And this one episode was about two women who thought they were they ugliest things in the world. But I thought they were both beautiful. One was a model but she thought her body distracts people from her face. and the other was a regular girl but did things to distract people from her beauty. i do believe that the media portrays beauty with makeup, clothes, being skinny, and many other things but what makes you beautiful is YOU! only you make yourself beautiful and don't forget that!.

So my challenge to you is to write down what you think makes you beautiful!
For me its my personality, my smile, my kindness, and my compassion for others.

Also listen to this song. it talks about being beautiful

Hair Regimen

I just started my HJ May. I wish I knew about this before my hair was badly damaged in 2007. It was so badly damaged that i had to get a short cut style. It has grown since then but it is not healthy, I want to grow my hair APL and healthy.

Regimen
Wash 1x a week
Co-wash 2x a week
DC 2x a week
leave in conditioner after each wash
moisturize and seal 2x a day
air dry
dont use heat! ( on a noheat challenge)
use heat only after a relaxer
Stretch relaxer every 8-12 weeks (wrking on getting to 12)Made it to 12 weeks next goal is 16 weeks
Trim every other relaxer
Wear protective styles

Products I use:
Shampoo:
Elasta QP
Creme of Nature

Conditioners and Leave in Conditioners:
Olive oil Replenishing conditioner
Africa's best Deep Conditioner
Cantu shea butter conditioner

Protein Conditioner:
Aphogee keratin 2 min reconstructor

Co wash conditioner:
Suave coconut conditioner

Oils:
Sweet almond oil
JBCO
Kemi oyl
EVOO
Shea butter
Argan

Moisturizers:
S-curl
Carrot oil creme

Make your own Countdown Clocks

Shea Butter review

I love this stuff. I would recommend to go get some. I had bought some shea butter a yr ago or so and forgot all about it. On youtube I was watching fgrogan and she had made some whipped shea butter. So I went digging in my closet and found my shea butter and whipped me up some! lol. Anyways I added Evoo, JBCO, Tea tree oil and Coconut oil. I'm in love with this stuff, I put some on last night and woke up this morning with nice soft hair and I didn't need to moisturize this morning!Go and get some you will like it plus its organic, non processed. You can get it at amazon, costalscents.com, butter-n-bars.com. It is a good investment for your hair!

Comments on my hair!

So I have been receiving alot of comments on my hair! A few would say your hair has gotten long! im so happy because I dont remember the last time I got a comment on my hair. I did a braid out a few days ago and it didnt turn out the way i wanted it to, but still sported it. And got compliments on it! I will do it another time and I will take pictures.

Relaxer update

So i started my journey in May. My first relaxer on my journey was in June and my second one was Sept 4, 2010. My second relaxer I waited for about 12 weeks. Here is a pic to show the diff.
The relaxer was on sept 4 not aug

Update at 12 weeks post!

So I am 12 weeks post and luving the waves in my hair lol. I plan on putting a relaxer in sometime next weekend or the weekend after not sure yet. I will be posting pics I hope that my hair is about SL now. If it is that will be the first time in a LONG time that my hair was healthy n that long! so i cant wait.

Hair update 8 weeks post

Haven't been on here in awhile. but I am 8 weeks post now and have some new growth. I plan on stretching for about another 2 or 3 weeks. If I can I might get my hair in kinky twist to stretch even longer but we will see. So I have been on my journey for about 2 and half months. I have seen a big difference in my hair its starting to be more healthy and NO MORE BAD DANDRUFF! yay! I hardly have any now! right now Im about SL hopefully in the next few months I will be APL at least. well ttyl.

PS. I will post pics later on today

Hair update July 11

So i have been lazy with my hair....I still  moisturize n seal (m&s) 2x a day..it s just i have not been taking care of my ends. they look frizzy rite now. So lately Ive been trying not to put my hair into a bun so i wouldnt have to use a hair tie. Ive been mostly putting on a hat. I need to buy a half wig. So i wont have to touch my hair except to m&s. So I decided to stretch my hair for at least 12 weeks or more. Or just until i cant take care of my New growth anymore. hopefully itll grow some. Bt i need to stop being lazy!

Hair is a lil dry after swimming!

So since I went swimming on saturday. My hair has been feeling dry. I am not sure if its the water here (hard water here) or I need to keep moisture in my hair. I dont know why its feeling like this. but for the past few days Ive been cowashing, hoping that this would help moisturize my hair. last night I left the DC in my hair all night. But hair still feels a little dry. Well I'm going to continue to cowash and DC til its soft again.

Swimming today!

So I went swimming and yes i got my hair wet! But I quickly let water run through my hair for a few mins. Then i washed with Elasta QP shampoo. Then I DC with ORS deep conditioner with JBCO, Tea Tree oil and almond oil. I had that in for about 3 hrs. After I rinsed I put in Africas best leave in conditioner then moisturized with Wave Nouveau moisture lotion followed by kemi oil. Now Im air drying. Im hoping the chlorine won't break my hair. That would be a bad set back!