Another News Years Eve, Ramble

So it's that time again. It is December 31st and I am sitting at home doing nothing. Sounds boring? sure, but is it? not really. I am dead broke and just want this weekend to be over so I can get paid on friday, pay my bills and go shopping haha. To most 22 year olds sitting at home on a New Years Eve sounds lame, but I'm not most 22 year olds. I honestly don't care for New Years. To me it's just another day. The only difference is I have to get used to writing 2012 down instead of 11. Another year older. A full year of life, that is 70% of the time ...Sucky lol.

So as I did last year, I want to make some goals.

1. Be more patient. Especially when detangling my hair. 

2. Master a Twist out and when my hair stops growing like it's on crack, master a Braid out.

3. Attempt a Bantu Knot out.

4. Keep up with my ends, buy new shears to Trim them.

5.Be Patient lol can't say it enough.

Body Wise

6.Eat more healthy, I've done so well with that this year so I hope to keep it up.

7. Cardio and Strength Training. Yep.

So those are my goals. Sure I have plenty more but that would be ten pages long. So I guess I'm off now, to watch reruns of Boadwalk Empire and Full house. What a night this shall be.

To Jump on the bandwagon or not to jump...that is the question.

So I sit here, waiting for my Oyin products, which are in my apartments office. Smart cookies stuck my package notice underneath my door after 6pm when the office closes, so now I must wait until tomorrow to get it!. It's been about two weeks the longest I've had to wait so far for Oyin since the overload of Black Friday. So it got me thinking. As a natural I spend a lot of time online looking at different blogs and sites that are all about the Natural hair movement. From sites like Curlynikki, to Curltalk to blogs of by my favorite natural hair youtube gurus, everyone has their own regimens and list of products they believe work.

When I was transitioning I spent hours online looking at reviews of products, now don't get me wrong I still look at reviews now but at that time it was more about, "Hey this worked for them, it should work for me?" and having that mindset didn't always work out for me. Sometimes we can get so caught up in what works for everyone else and we can lead ourselves to believe that if it works for them it can work just as well for us. From buying every product they use or recommend to copying the exact same styling routine.

So to bandwagon or not?, I say not. I will always look at reviews on products but at the end of the day it's best to decide for yourself if a product is worth buying. You honestly have to find what works best for you. Some naturals have regimens that a professional organizer with OCD couldn't touch. I'm not that kind of person and have accepted that I never will be. My hair works best when I keep it moisturized and simple, and when I don't have thirty different products in it.

My hair throughout the years...well kinda

So I was skimming through old photos from Photobucket, which were filled with me doing random "Myspace" poses. Hilarious I might add. Looking at the pics made me go wow at how far I've come with my hair. I don't think I was that versatile or imaginative with my hair dos I feel like I've always been kind of safe when it came to hair, compared to other people. But I still think it's fun to look at my hair lol. Most of these pics are from 09 a few from 08 and 07.

Have no idea what year this was, I believe it was 07 before I cute my hair, my hair was a mess back then and that length...awful lol.

My hair the day after prom, first time I used Redken. One of the first times in a long time my hair was somewhat even.

A fake bob, this is after I cut my hair and it was growing out.

Another fake bob, my hair was at such an awkward length I pinned the back underneath.

 Sideswept mess

Well there's the date 09 lol, hair still growing out

Tried to do half up half down

Both of these are my short hair. Tried to do Rihanna didn't come out that way. The first pic that is just awful what the heck is that little hair situation in the back lol. As for the bottom pic, one of the only times my hair acted right lol.

 This pic is from last year I believe, curled it and that's what I got lol.

Frizzy Fall hair?!

Seriously...

So on this day before Thanksgiving, weather crisp and cold, I go out with my friends to her barn to visit her horse. I threw on a hat  in the pic below (excuse the face, I thought the horse was going to bite me)

Anyway I didn't feel like doing my hair so I threw on the hat and only straightened the hair in the front. For some crazy reason after being outside for like 45 min my hair went poofalicious!!, like seriously?? it's freezing out, how does that even happen?!. I was sooooo annoyed!.

Anyway I've been on the serious hunt for products. My inner product junkie is on fire. I have officially run out of all my products I use on my curly hair, so I am searching far and wide the internet world and natural hair community to find products to buy. I haven'y decided what to get yet but there will definitely be some Oyin action in my cabinet. So until next time. Adio.

Natural hair inspiration time!

So at the moment I'm feeling a little...inspired and decided to share my fav natural hair pics.

When I look at these people, it makes me like being natural even more.

From her hair to her makeup that's a whole lot of Africa goodness. Absolutely stunning.

                                                                   
So...maybe I didn't choose this pic because of his hair, although very gorgeous hair, I prefer the rest of him haha.

I can only dream to have that much hair to sit on top of my head.

Both these ladies have adorable fros!

Eye,eyebrows,lips and hair, gorgeous lady.

Black women and working out?

  

So after my intense half hour workout yesterday consisting of elliptical action and the sound of Lady Gaga's Edge of Glory in my ears, I stepped off the machine feeling like I had just been kicked in the chest, but a good kicked in the chest feeling. Since I started working out I have come to appreciate a good after workout feeling. I love the feeling of accomplishment that I've just helped my body out. I don't understand how anyone can not like that feeling...

So that brings me to Black women and NOT working out. So lately I've been researching a lot about Black women and not wanting to workout because of their hair. So many Black women are choosing their hair over their bodies and that completely baffles me!. How on earth are you going to say, Screw my body as long as my hair is great!. You are basically deciding  to sacrifice your body and your life for some hair sitting on top of your head. That is ridiculous to me.

What I also can't grasp is women who are clearly overweight and have the nerve to call themselves curvy? when did curvy become fat? a roll of fat on your body is not a curve, it is in fact just a roll. this delusional mindset is not healthy. Now I 'm no health professional or some vegan eating, extremely active, yoga loving (besides the pic above ) health freak, but I do care about being healthy. As we all should. 

I feel like in the  Black community curves are appreciated and that is great but so many women mistake being curvy or thick when really they are just fat and none of that PH nonsense.

I'm not going to go on about what you can do for your hair so you can workout because there are countless articles on how to. As a natural I have no problem sweating away my hair because I can wash it later, even when I wear it straight I still workout. All I'm going to say is get your big arse up and workout!. Nothing is more important than your health!, you won't care about hair when you are on TLC doing a special on how you are 600 lbs and are stuck in your house.

Products I use on my straight hair.

   

So this is what my hair looks like now. Well last night lol.

I decided why not make a post about my hair products that I use when I wear my hair straight since they are different from the products I use when I'm rocking au natural.  

So the process of straightening my hair is tedious and annoying and more so the results are always lack luster. However I have learned more and more about my hair and how it works.

I don't flat iron on freshly washed hair because when I flat iron it comes out super soft, smells amazing but is like a big fluff. I have to wait a day or two to get those natural hair oils flowing and to let the hair products I used soak in. I don't apply to much products because of build up and dirty hair. I like to be able to wear my hair straight a week or two before I wash again instead of having it straight for two seconds and then running to grab the shampoo. Plus having too much product equals burnt flat iron smell. At least in my hair and I don't even have the Iron up that high.

After I flat iron a few days later on in the week I have to re flat iron my hair to get it to it's desired straightness. My roots are very stubborn so I try my best the first time around but they stay kinda puffy until I redo them. When I re flat iron the second time I curl my hair with he flat iron. I've noticed it makes my ends look better. After I finish the re straighten my hair is super Black, Shiny and looks like a 1940s curly do.

Anyway. I've been using Chi products for about three years but one small bottle of Chi is 24.00 and that is quite pricey but it does last a long time. I have been using Chi Keratin Spray, Chit Straightening cream and then Chi Silk in fusion. I recently ran out and decided to switch up my products and that is when Redken Comes along.

So these are three products by Redken. Two are from the Real Control line and the other from the smooth down line.

Redken Heat Down Smooth Glide, Real Control Slim Supreme and Real Control Mineral Exilir Smoothing Oil.

All three of these products range from 13.00-16.00 and the prices do vary on where you purchase them. So they are cheaper than Chi but overall they are of equal if not better quality. I used Smooth Glide back in 07 for prom. Had amazing results, hair was dark and shiny,not greasy just flawless but keep in mind I was relaxed so when purchasing this time around I was a little skeptical on how it would work with my newly formed curls. The Slim Supreme is suppose to work against humidity. Wish I had these products this summer! lol. As for the Smoothing oil it's suppose to smooth frizz and it also contains Shea Butter.

All in all The Slim Supreme and Smooth down have worked amazing. The Smoothing oil is alright, I wouldn't purchase again since I already use a spray product I'm good to go. I use the Slim supreme first concentrating on my roots mainly and then I use the Smooth down. I rub that in from root to tip and then proceed with the straightening  Chase Method of course. Neither products leave hair greasy or gross. Honestly it depends on your hair type and if you are heavy handed lol. The Slim Supreme has a slight fruity smell to it. Super super light and the smooth down most people think it smells like Vanilla? but to me there is a slight hint of vanilla but it's a very spicy, pepper smell. That sounds bad when I describe it but it isn't bad lol.

Last but not least

  

Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Sheen Spray.

I'ts basically a light oil sheen with olive oil. Great light smell, great shine great size and great price. I don't use this often on my hair when it's curly mostly when it's straight and it does wonders. Would def buy again.

So that is all for now.