Naturalista | Tricks to staying Moisturized during Winter

Have you noticed it's getting cooler outside? Winter is on it's way to us. Even in the Southern region we are feeling the shift in weather and Mother Nature is making it known. Make sure you and your hair are both ready to battle the cold brittle weather that is to come. Here are some tricks of the trade to use towards these Winter months. The way to growth and health is moisturizing your hair. I can't stress enough how big moisturizing is. It's a task within itself to keep your hair nice and moisturized during the cold weather. I've seen it happen where the cold weather takes over your hairs progress. I, myself, am a victim of the cold break! I had to do a 2nd big chop Summer 2011 due to breakage during the winter and how I couldn't bounce back from it. So, don't make the same dumb mistakes I was making that's for sure lol. Let me be the one to make the mistakes and teach you the correct way of how things should flow. With that being said, let's get into it shall we?

Leave-In Conditioners & It's Values
Treat your hair with a Leave-In Conditioner of your choice. I never used a leave-in conditioner until 2 months from now. I never saw a reason for it, it looked like an added/unnecessary step to me. I never knew that a leave in condition would hydrate and protect your hair from the heat/sun as well as dry weather. It is a great balance of moisture added to your hair. It is very necessary in the winter time, especially since it is getting cooler. Take a look at the one I use.

Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave-In Conditioner

Although they are just getting their name out there in the curly industry it is a great product to use. For one, the price is amazing! You can find this at your local Wal-Mart in the ethnic section for as little as $5.94. It is awesome for detangling and moisturizing your hair. I have 4b/4c textured hair. As you ladies know that texture is horrendous for detangling. This leave-in does WONDERS for my hair. I absolutely love it! Try it for yourself and let me know what you think :)

Never Leave w/ Wet Hair
Never leave the house with wet hair. With it getting cooler outside you do not, by any circumstance, want to walk out of the house with wet hair. It causes breakage that you wouldn't even believe. I have do this before thinking "Oh I'll just do a co-wash, dry my hair a little, then leave". Oh no, wrong! You want to make sure your hair is moisturized BUT you do not want to leave and walk into the cold air with wet hair. Close to dry is okay but not wet or damp.

Use LOC to Moisturize
Make sure you lock in your moisture using the LOC method. Meaning liquid, oil, cream/butter. You can do something as easily as making a concoction of the 3 in a spritz bottle to tackle everything at once or you can do like myself and do the steps one at a time. By following this method you are ensuring that you are locking in the moisture before heading out into the cold. When I make my concoction I put water, my fav conditioner or leave-in conditioner, and some oil. Give it a shimmy shake and wallah! Something so simple will keep you from having breakage in the end. Be sure to follow these steps. You hair will love you as much as you love your hair :)

Protecting Your Goodies
Not everyone is with the whole "Protective Styling" thing. I'm one that would rather wear my hair out. For those of you who have longer hair you are able to do protective styling with your own hair by doing Two-Strand Twists, Braids, or Bantu Knots. The ladies with the TWA's I suggest going the route of getting Kinky Twists, Senegalese Twists, Box Braids, or Yarn Braids. This way your hair is protected against the harsh cold weather and your hair stays nice and moisturized. Your ends are the oldest part of your hair and need the most care to survive or you will experience breakage thus causing you not to retain the length. With that being said, make sure you protect your hair accordingly. Even if this means using a beanie cap or scarfs. I know those come to aid on days that my hair is wet and/or damp and I can't wait any longer, I have to leave. I do not use heat on my hair so air dry it is.

Beginning your Transition Phase

What is Transitioning?

When you stop putting chemical straighteners in your hair with the goal of wearing your natural texture, this process is called transitioning. According to Merriam-Webster, a transition is a passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another; or, a movement, development, evolution from one form, stage, or style to another. 

In this context, when your hair is transitioning, it is moving from its current form under the chemical straightener and evolving into its natural state. In many ways, this transition will also be physical, mental and even spiritual. Letting go of old habits is never easy. But strength, patience and sometimes even a better sense of humor can be gained in the process.


Why Transition?

Transitioning is not always the fastest way to achieve a head full of natural textured hair, but it will get you to your goal. Believe me, I’ve done it three times! There are several reasons why you may decide to transition. Transitioning from chemical straighteners to wearing your natural hair texture aids in the overall health of your hair and scalp. Like others, after I transitioned I noticed my scalp was less dry and itchy, and I experienced way less hair breakage and shedding.

Where to Begin?

The most important key to a smooth transition is patience. On average, hair grows one-half an inch a month or six inches a year, and that’s barring any preexisting health issues. So you can see, transitioning is definitely not a sprint, but a marathon.

Once your hair starts to grow, you have a few options on what you can do to reach your goal of a head full of natural textured hair.  As your new growth comes in, you can cut a half an inch off your chemically straightened ends each month. Or, you can hold on to your chemically straightened ends for as long as they are healthy, and once your natural texture grows out to your desired length, you can then cut off the chemically straightened ends.

With either choice you make, you have to be extremely careful with the demarcation point between the two textures. Harsh pulling, combing or using tight accessories in this area will cause breakage. So to prevent damaging your hair, be gentle and stay away from high heat styling appliances.

How to Maintain

As you transition, you will have to maintain two textures of hair—your new growth and your chemically straightened ends. While getting to know your new growth, you will find that what you used on your straight ends may not necessarily work on your natural texture.

In the beginning stages of transitioning, it wont be very difficult for you to blend in your new growth with your straight ends by using styling products, low-heat blow drying, etc., but as your new growth gets longer you will have to start wearing transition styles. Transition styles, are hairstyles worn during your transition, that don’t cause stress on your natural hair texture thereby, allowing it to grow healthy. Some examples are straw curls, two-strand twists, twist/braid-outs and extension braids. Tips for these styles can be found onTransitioningMovement.com. This will be part of the fun. The hairstyle options are limitless!

The last and final time I decided to wear my natural hair texture, I followed these guidelines. I won’t say that there were no bumps along the way, but my transitioning journey was a whole lot easier and I was able to stick with it—maintaining my natural hair texture for more than 10 years. Yes, a decade strong! I wish you the best on your journey as well!

TAG YOUR IT!!!!!!!!

Here's my tag for "My Natural Hair Tag" from DearNatural62 on YouTube.

My Staple Products

Sorry I've been gone for so long but you know what I'm back bxtchesssssss! I'm gunna be in full effect back at the blogging and vlogging. I haven't been doing either lately it's been so busy at the office for a while now but I'm back and so excited to be back. Yes I am! I've got lots of giveaways, tutorials, how-to's, reviews, etc it's not even funny yall. I've got so much in store for you all. Anywho, I've been doing good. Got a full recovery from my two surgeries last year, Thank God for that! So therefore I'm back to my normal self :) I shot a video this morning of my staple products so make sure you check that out by either clicking the link HERE or by pressing play below.

Also make sure you go and SUBSCRIBE to my channel as well. Oh and make sure you follow my blog too :P Expect loads of reviews of all sorts. I'll be posting via internet on the laptop or the mobile device so make sure you check back DAILY!!!!! I love you all, have a great weekend and safety first!

Peace, Love, & Hair Grease!
-| LuvNKnappiness |-

guess what............... I BC'D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
Short term, transitioning about 3 months.I've been going through a lot of things in my life and I've been contemplating going natural for quite some time. After getting out of a bad situation I figured I could start a new page in my life and the BC would be my first step so I grabbed the scissors and went to work!

When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
I BC'd on my birthday Nov 24th, which makes it all the more special to me :) My reaction when the first snip came off was "OMG OMG OMFG!!!!!!" I was literally about to cry lol, but I had to remember it's only hair. Afterwords, when I looked in the mirror, I screamed and was like "LAWDDDDDD WTH DID I JUST DO!" o_0
 

 
How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
Well on thanksgiving I explained I was going natural after a comment from my cousin about the wrap on my head. They turned over all this chaos about me going natural saying I was stupid and I need a perm. All this bull crap! When I took my wrap off and showed that I did the BC they were speechless but guess what...... after I took that wrap off they shut up and was like OMG I actually like that. Same with my other family members, once they saw my TWA they fell in love, I think I got one of my cousins on the bandwagon to transition to natural heheheee. Woot, Yay me!! Even though my mom was against it (she's stuck on the creamy crack) she has finally accepted the fact that I'm natural and I'm doing me. All in all, the positive energy from everyone REALLY helped my self-esteem and motivation to want to rock my TWA everywhere rather than throw a wrap on my head to cover up the fact I don't have much hair right now.
 
What was your staple hair style during the transition?
I'd either slick my hair back with a headband or throw on my satin head wrap with a bun in the back!
 
Why did you choose to go natural?
I chose to go natural, not because I have friends that are natural, but because I wanted to be free and quit being a follower and be a trend setter! I also wanted people to say that beauty comes within thy self, hair does NOT define who you are by any means. Embrace your natural curls and WORK IT! Now that I've done my BC I feel like a whole new person. My soul has been set free! I've lived my life in the shadows not knowing who I am but after my BC I'm so dominate that I'm almost untouchable!! I am finally free. I'm black, beautiful, free, and LOVING IT!

To follow my journey please subscribe/follow:
Blog - www.LuvNKnappiness.blogspot.com
YT Channel - www.youtube.com/user/LuvNKnappiness

Behind the Hair

I've been getting relaxers, aka the creamy crack, since I could remember. From birth my mom has had it instilled in her that straight hair, controlled by the creamy crack, is who we are. The creamy crack is what all black chicks have become over the years basically and it's sad. My mom was brought up in a household who didn't have money for salons, etc. Once my mom was on her own she could afford to go to the salons weekly to maintain her hair. She's one that's all about the hair! Anywho, around age 10 my mom had Ms. Ridley, my mom and I's stylist, pu a freaking curl in my hair. I begged and begged my mom not to buy she did it anyway!! At the time I was in the 5th or 6th grade. All the kids made fun of me saying ooooh Key has a jerry curl, Key has a jerry curl!! :( After a while I got tired of fighting it so I used to lie and say no I have "natural curly hair." Soon enough, maybe a year later, my mom allowed me to get rid of it and go back to the creamy crack! Since then my hair has been off the wall trying to take care of it. I'm not the type to love hair..... I'd prefer it to be all gone, but hell the BC scares me! lol. Most of my childhood I wore braids like micros, corn rolls, single plats, or kinky twists. I am so the tomboy type hahahahaaaa! Right after high school I decided to cut my hair into a short style like this:

just for a new look and style. I mean come on, I'm going to college now...... gotta grow up! March 2010 I decided to go natural so I started the "transitioning" stage, not knowing what kind of journey I was in for. After about 2 months I chickened out, got the creamy crack, cut my hair, burned it with a style, and that was that. I'm so bad at maintaining my hair, that's why I chickened out in the first place LOL!! Recently, I started the transitioning stages of going natural again and am going to follow through with it this time around. My last relaxer was mid August 2010. I have so much new growth and I thank myself for taking time and researching, my natural hair friends for their knowledge and support, and my products I've created. So as you can see I've been through hell and high water with my hair and my journey is just now beginning!! I hope you enjoy this encouragement post I created just for other sisters that are thinking of going natural. Join me on my journey, we could be partners and help each other through this trying time. Remember it's just hair and WE ARE NOT OUR HAIR. That's all, Peace and Blessings. XoXo

PS.. don't forget to check out the Galley Goodies page for recipes. Get ready for the holiday season with some home cooked southern style recipe's I grew up cooking with my mom :P

Research

It's been a couple of days since I posted and I'm sorry about that. Lately I've been doing some research on different proteins, vitamins, etc. for natural hair. As most of you know I'm starting my own line of hair care products and possibly facial care products as well. I've been using my own hair for trial and error and also sending samples to friends and family. They all love it as well. I've only been transitioning 3 months and look at the new growth!! My hair is growing like weeds! So far I've come up with a couple deep conditioners (aka DC), regular conditioners, moisturizers, and I'm in the works of creating a couple of shampoo's & facial daily products. I did, however, come up with a deep conditioner that cleans your hair and roots without having to pre-poo or anything. You just start the DC process and BAM! My hair loves it and so does my friends. A couple are relaxed and a couple are natural. I'll make it a point to do more posts with knowledge of natural hair, how to maintain it, and the different tips & tricks I do to my own hair. I work it honey!! Next on my list is my BC (big chop) and from that point I'll be completely natural honey and loving it :) I'm just like the typical transitioner, I'm terrified of the outcome, but keep posted because the BC will come when you least expect it :P
XoXo