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Feeling the Shrinkage

By the time December 2013 hit ( 7 months post relaxer), I was really feeling the shrinkage.  When I began this journey, my hair was just past shoulder length, to about the top quarter of my shoulder blades.  I didn't measure with a tape measure so I can't give you the length in inches, though you can get idea from the picture below (yes, I know I'm leaning forward, so add about 1/2 an inch to the back).

After my blowout was essentially null and void, my hair seemed to be bobbing just below my chin. 

I knew it was coming.  I'd read it, heard it, been warned, and yet...I just couldn't get over how short it looked! Stretched out, it still went past my shoulders but it was not cute in it's current state (sorry, forgot to take a picture...probably too bewildered to remember).

Anywho, wearing it down doesn't seem to be much of an option, so I tried coming up with a style that not only hid the fact that my ponytail was relaxed, but that the front of my hair was frizzy (since it was straight). So I made a few single braids to the front, pulled them to the side and put the rest of my hair up in a bun.

Not my favorite look.  Because the ends of my hair are relaxed, the braids looked thick at the roots but too thin at the ends.  If I attempt this again, I may add some bulk hair for volume and to keep the thickness even.

...This hairstyle has potential...I'll keep working on it to see if I find a modification I like (gosh, so many flyaways!).

My First Post-Relaxer Blowout

I decided to get a blowout from a Dominican hair salon sometime in November 2013.  At that point, 6 months had past since my last relaxer and my hair was definitely getting to the point where there was a noticeable demarcation of natural and relaxed hair (I had been wearing braids for pretty much the entire 6-month period and felt it was time for my hair to come out and play).

I've heard everywhere that the trick with transitioning versus doing the big chop (BC) is that transitioners have to choose which hair texture they're going to match--curly or straight.  Since the majority of my hair was still straight, I decided to go straight all the way.  Below are the results:

Day 1:

Not bad.  My hair is practically as straight as when I get a relaxer, BUT I can also tell that my roots are a little fuller than a freshly minted relaxed head.  No harm, no foul. I wrapped my hair in a silk scarf overnight wondering what day 2 held in store.

Day 2:

No, my hair didn't break off to chin length lol--my scarf just happens to be sitting over it.  Forgive the bad photography.  Day 2 hair actually looks much better than my Day 1 hair, in my opinion. After sleeping with a silk scarf and adding a little sheen with Organix Olive Oil Sheen Spray, you really can't tell that the first few inches of my hair is not relaxed. Score!

Day 3:

Welp. Even after repeating the same process (silk scarf and sheen) for day 3, it's getting a little obvious that the first two and a half inches of my hair and the rest of it are really different.

In fact, it continued to "poof up" throughout the day. By the time I got home, I knew I would need to flat iron it before wrapping it up for bed.  I had to do this all the way through Day 7, even though it was practically clear by Day 5 that the blowout was done.

So all in all, pretty high maintenance to keep the top part as straight as the relaxed ends. It's also pricey! I live in Virginia and Dominican hair salons are hard to come by. However, the few that are here charge outrageous prices if they have to deal with a scintilla of natural hair.  By the time I was done (wash, condition, blowdry and flat iron), I paid $70!  That's more than I pay for a relaxer!!!! AND it only really lasted 3 days. :(

So...experiment fail.. It's just not worth:
    1) the price considering the length of results,
    2) the amount of heat I have to use on my hair (anyone who's ever been to a Dominican hair salon knows what I mean...plus the flat ironing I had to do on Days 3 - 7),
    3) the amount of time and dedication.

In conclusion, I probably won't be straightening my hair (at least not professionally) for a while. 

Hairstyle 2: Crochet Braids - Pre-braided strands

This is the other type of crochet braids that I like to put in: pre-braided strands.  This is the easiest way I've found to get the same look as micros/Senegalese.

Like the bulk hair version, you can get these wet at anytime.  The downside to pre-braided strands is that, if you hair grows quickly, it will last closer to the 4 week range.  There is just no way to hide the new growth.

Here are a couple of examples for comparison:

1) Actual Senegalese Braids  - never again (ain't nobody got time for that!)

2)  Senegalese-style Crochet Braids: (hair brand/type = Biba Pre-lock Twist Braid)

As you can see above, this style is really easy to wear casual or for a special occasion.  I wore these for my wedding because it was a humid, hot, location and my honeymoon was going to be spent on the beach.  It was great waking up and not having to do anything to my hair!

3)  Micro-style crochet braids: (hair brand/type = KB LEO Micro Knot Braid)

These are bone straight pre-braided micros that can still be fancied up.

4)  The combo Senegalese braids: (hair brand/type = Biba Pre-lock Combo)

These are basically partially braided Senegalese with a deep wave effect.  I tend to prefer the curlier pre-braids as I can manipulate them better to cover new growth as it comes in.


The pre-braided Senegalese twists/combo can be found at:
http://www.superbeautydepot.com/Biba-Synthetic-Braid-Pre-Lock-Combo-Braid-16-p/bibaprelockbbraid.htm
https://www.superbeautydepot.com/Biba-Synthetic-Braid-Pre-Lock-Twist-Braid-p/bibaprelocktwist.htm

Other pre-braided styles, which tend to be harder to find, such as micros, can be found here:
http://www.gmbshair.com/crochetbraid1.html

Hairstyle 1: Crochet Braids - Water Wave (and other bulk hair)

Crochet braids are my favorite go-to protective style.  They are easy to do and (most importantly for braids) easy to take out. Also, individuals with practically any length hair can wear them. Bonus: they take less than half the time to put in than traditional box braids, micros, or Senegalese. Plus, you can try a variety of styles with crochet.

What are crochet braids? 
Crochet braids are not to be confused with tree braids, which take a little longer to put in.  Basically, your hair is in cornrows, braided all the way back.  If your hair is long, your ends are tacked up.  There are two basic options after this process is done.  1) You may choose to crochet synthetic/human hair bulk hair through your cornrows or 2) crochet pre-braided strands (essentially can have the same effect as micros or Senegalese under this option).  Using a crochet pin, which can be purchased at any beauty supply store for less than $3 (typically around $1.99), you crochet individual strands through the cornrows. The entire process should take between 3 - 5 hours. Obviously, the slower you are at braiding cornrows, the slower the entire process.

How long do crochet braids last?
Crochet braids can last anywhere from 4 - 6 weeks, depending on how quickly your hair grows.  My hair grows fairly quick so if I use pre-braided strands I will take them out after 4 weeks.  However, if I use bulk hair, especially a type that is pretty close in texture and style to my natural hair, the new growth is less noticeable and I will leave it in for the full 6 weeks.

Below is the finished product using Freetress Water Wave bulk hair in colors 1B and 30.  To achieve this look you will need about 2 - 3 packs of 28" or 26" cut in half.  As you can see below, my natural hair is about as wispy and curly as the synthetic.

 (taken 1 week after braids were put in)

If synthetic bulk hair is used, daily hair care is essential in order to prevent dryness and fraying.  For the style above, I used a daily leave-in moisturizer (both a cream and a spray) to keep the curls lustrous and bouncy.  For my scalp, I used coconut oil every other day--just follow the natural tracks of the cornrows. To prevent itch, I used Shea Moisture African Black Soap Dandruff & Dry Scalp Elixir (pictured below).  This combination worked pretty well as it did not create a lot of buildup and I could go two weeks without washing my hair. 

I followed my regular shampoo and conditioning regimen when I did wash my hair, with the exception of blow drying.  You can get crochet braids wet at anytime, and they dry fairly rapidly--just keep in mind that your real hair cornrowed underneath will take a little longer to dry.  To speed up the process, you may use a handheld blow dryer with a comb attachment to get some hot air directly to the cornrows.

Below is are the braids right before I took them out:

(At week 6)

Taking Crochet Braids Out

One of the more attractive features of crochet braids is that it is a cinch to take out.  Literally.  All you have to do is grab a pair of scissors and cut.  No, really, it is that simple.  You know exactly where your hair is--it's in CORNROWS!!!!  So all you have to do is cut all the synthetic hair off and start undoing your cornrows.   Voila! No fuss, no muss.  It should take you well under an hour to finish as long as you didn't make your cornrows too thin (I usually have only 12 cornrows across my head).

If there's information I left out about crochet braids that you would like to know, let me know and I will update the post. 

Welcome to the Journey

Welcome to D'aller Naturel.  Literally translated, it means "Going Natural."  That's exactly what I'm doing--going natural.

After receiving several burns to the scalp and developing permanent scars, I decided that it may be time to stop relaxing.  Trust me--this decision hurt.  Literally and figuratively. Relaxing has always been the easier option, the cheaper option, and the quickest option.  But it may not have been the right option (for my head).  So...my natural journey begins.  

I have relatively long hair as it is. Since the notion that I would have to chop of my locks utterly terrified me (I did it once and hated it), I decided that I was going to figure out hairstyles that would allow me to transition in REALLY SMALL increments. 

I should say that the last time I was natural, I was pretty young and my mother did my hair.  Rediscovering how to care for and style my natural hair has proven both comically disastrous and surprisingly enlightening.  I will try to post the different hairstyles that I try during this transition period, the care methods and products that work and those that don't.  I invite you to join me on this journey. Here's to new adventures!

      (3 inches of natural growth blow dry straight)