Hey Fellow Nappies!!!

I have been so busy shaking and moving that I almost totally missed my Blogiversary!  But one year and ten days ago I humbly started Journey Back to Me as a way to chronicle my transition from relaxed to natural.  From there, it seems, JBTM has blossomed into the E-journal you see today, full of personal updates, insightful articles, resources and tributes to others who have taken up the naptural cross.  While the process of transitioning and keeping the journey Blog updated has had its ebbs and flows, overall it has been such a fun undertaking — measuring my growth about myself from the growth of my hair, discovering new ways to maintain health from the outside in (and back again), sharing my story as well as the stories of others.

From my humble beginnings to trying styles on for size to impromptu hiatuses and a bit of homemade experimenting, both my journey and maintaining JBTM have been a wonderful adventure physically and spiritually.  When I started I never imagined something so seemingly simple would be such an involved and evolving experience, and I have loved every single moment of it.

In both the near and distant futures I hope to extend the fun I’ve started here into more natural feature spots, more product, book and site reviews, more style experimentation and eventually a book of my very own.  I also intend to reach out to other natural hair and beauty Blog owners, such as Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik of Afrobella and of Belle Cheveux and Sunshyne of The Course Hair Diaries, to create an interconnected Blogweb of resources to help newbies and veterans alike.

So here’s to a year, with hopes for many, many more!

Healthy Hair Wishes,

As I mentioned in a previous post, I love coffee.  Actually, thanks to BF Emeritus, I’m a bit of a coffee snob. *lol* But as much as I like drinking it, I hold an affinity for the bean for another reason… It is a wondrous natural beauty aid for both hair and skin.  Here are a few examples:

Coffee: Kitchen Cupboard Beauty Tips

By Cait Johnson

I was on a phone call to my very good friend and writing mentor, Sylvia McClain, playing catch up since we have not talked in almost two years (I’ve been horrible with keeping up my literary connections, but that’s changng).  The topic of conversation turned to my natural hair book project and Sylvia, who has been natural  since waaaaaaay before I was born, brought up a concern of hers: hair loss.  As far as I have been aware, Sylvia has always had what we term “good” hair, the kind that softly waves and curls, and has always been conscious of her hair’s natural shedding process.  But lately, she expressed, it seemed the process had kicked up a notch.  In addition to the shedding, she noted that there were also changes in her hair’s texture and thickness, and that it was more brittle and prone to breakage than it had been before.  Sylvia attributed the changes in her hair as part and parcel of the change, but needed help finding possible solutions to restore her hair to it’ previous healthy state, because not even medical doctor’s had been able to find the real cause.

As we traded ideas I was hit with an “AHA” type realization that in all the information provided in books and message boards and Websites, I have never seen anyone discuss the changes a woman’s hair goes through as she ages!  I mean, it’s only common sense that as we grow and develop biochemically, our hair becomes affected, and so should the ways we maintain our hair.  But, because the change in hair’s make up is such a gradual process, very little attention seems to be paid to this important aspect of hair care, whether it be natural or chemically altered,  And even less is paid to it in the hair care resources I’ve come across.  Of course graying is the most obvious change, as melanin production in the hair decreases, but also as we age hair thins because the hair follicle diminishes in size, and sebum and keratin production slows resulting in drier, more brittle hair.  And this is probably most apparent during menopause, as Sylvia is discovering, but throughout life similar processes are set into motion which each change our bodies undergo.

But this is not just a topic to ponder once menopause creeps upon us.  Our hair constantly changes in correspondence to the different stages of our development.  From infanthood to puberty, through pregnancy, menses and various other emotional/chemical shifts we women endure, it is apparent that the texture of our hair changes, the density of the hair shaft either increases or decreases, and the moisture quality ebbs and flows.  But with life happening at the speed of blinks while we’re in our “prime”, those minute alterations in our hair  become something we take for granted in a sense.  We really never notice how our hair changes until those changes are drastic.  With this being the case, I had a grand idea to add a section in my book which covers some of the normal changes our hair undergoes during the life cycle.  Quite possibly, by understanding hair’s metamorphosis as we age, we might be able to better care for it in order prevent certain common hair problems that plague us when we get older… or at least change our hair care regimen to compliment the changes.

So wish me luck, because this is an enormous undertaking since there seems to be so little in-depth information on the topic itself, but I am excited about the prospects of shedding light on another faction of cultivating healthy hair, for a life time.  If you have any ideas, resource suggestions or any other information that might prove enlightening, feel free to pass it along.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

When mapping out the prelim outline for the book project I had the bright idea to enlist the help of some of my fellow nappies from Plurk.  Ranging from the novice to the seasoned, this informal panel of women shed light on a couple of nuances that have influenced their respective journeys, as well as helped them along the way.  Two of the Pleeps you are already familiar with – Selena and Sunita – but the others are new additions whose insight I hope you will gain from.

And without further ado…

AngelaMichelle: Have you read any “natural hair care” books at any point in your transitioning process? If so, did they cover everything you personally felt you needed to confidently transition? If not, what were they lacking?

Kylah: Nope, [I] haven’t read anything because most people don’t include a lot on the “mixed” hair.

Taja: Nope.  [I] have taken my clues from you. *lol* And what Ky said.

Selena: Not books.  I don’t think there was much in print back then I did a lot of research online though, but that was back in ’03.  I participated in natural hair groups back then. I got a lot of information from those groups.

Jacquelyn: I’m with Selena. Most of the info was online. The few books that I did buy did not talk much about natural transitioning, and that transitioning involved the use of braids or texturizers. No Lye and Hair Story are two that I believe are in my collection

Tanya: I did the online thing too where I found more information. But even then the info was at times confusing or not what I was looking for. A perfect example of this was the first site I joined, Nappturality. It seemed to me, and I could be wrong, that the site was more geared to transitioners who wanted to eventually get locs. I personally wanted to transition and show my hair’s beauty. so locs, braids & weaves were not an option in my book. Another thing that was extremely confusing was the hair type system. I could not figure out if I was a 3A – 3C or a 4A – 4C. Turns out my hair is a complete mixture. I, too, am technically mixed since I have an “European-Spanish” mom and an “African-Spanish” dad. So although my hair looks more African, it really is a mixture of him, her and mine. So with that I was completely lost.

Jacquelyn: Yeah, Tanya.  Ii had a hard time figuring out that system too

Sunita: No, not one book. [I used] a slew of websites though.

AngelaMichelle: What was your initial impetus for “going natural”? How old were you and how long were you “relaxed” before transitioning?

Taja: I was 12 when I got my first perm. I cut my hair off in “99 and went natural for a while but I couldn’t keep it up while short.  [I] relaxed again in’01 (I think) and the last touch up I had was this time last year.  So, 7 years relaxed this time?

Kylah: I’ve been relaxing for as long as I can remember. I just forget to touch up every now and again. The last time I touched up was last… hell… ask Taja, cause I don’t remember.

Sunita: I was only relaxed as a child because my mom wanted me to have an easy time taking care of my hair. That was in my teen years.  Then I did the Wave Noveau thing, then back to relaxers, then back to Wave Noveau.  Then I quit. *lol*

Digi: I got my first perm at 12 , went natural in ‘ 95, and did what Sunita did but with a curl up in there somewhere.  I initially went natural to loc my hair. My mom and I were going to do it together, but then I got another perm and my hair started falling out. I cut it off and wore braids with a few curly weaves in between until I had a length I was comfy with. I still want locs but haven’t done it yet because I’m afraid I wont like them. I’m not afraid of the commitment.

Tanya: I had been getting my “conditioner” as a child, although I can’t remember how old I was. I did not know I was texlaxing my hair until 2007. Actually, I don’t even know what it is really. It’s not a relaxer but then it could be if you can wash your hair and then put it on.

Jacquelyn: I first got a perm at 8. I had long, think, shiny hair and up until then, I had my hair pressed. From the age of 8 until 17 I had a perm. Senior year of high school, I cut off ALL my hair and began to grow it out. I had a texturizer, but didn’t like it too much, so I started the presses again. Second semester of college was the last time I permed my hair (’01). In October of ‘02 is when I started the loc process.

AngelaMichelle: When starting out did, you enlist the help of veteran transitioners, join any natural hair groups, or hit the ground running solo?

Digi: I hit the ground running solo. I looked at a few books that didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know.  I eventually joined Nappturality but wasn’t active there.

Jacquelyn: I am on some online groups but overall I just went with the flow. I didn’t really experiment with natural styles, just started loc’ing!

Tanya: I spoke to one natural. She thought we had the same type of hair and gave me bad advice. I used a combination of Websites (more) and books (less) and tried to do what worked for me. Nappturality was the only site that I got the least from. They wanted you to go either natural & loc your hair or get braids. Neither is something I want to do at the moment.

Sunita: I used forums galore!

AngelaMichelle: What have you learned about your hair since you decided to go natural that you didn’t realize before?

Jacquelyn: My hair grows soooo fast!  And it’s super soft!

Digi: That it’s softer and curlier than I remembered.

Tanya: The different textures, mostly. I suspected my hair was thick, curly and even soft. What I did not expect is the 5 to 6 textures involved.  Oh, and my hair isn’t as dry as it was when I was transitioning.

Sunita: It is a lot curlier in spots than I imagined and a lot different than itself in some good ways.

AngelaMichelle: What products are on your “must have” list? Are you more commercial bent or organic when it comes to ingredients?

Digi: I have been partial to Carol’s Daughter’s Healthy Hair Butter before getting my extensions, but am mostly partial to water based creams. As long as there is no mineral oil or alcohol, I’m good.

Jacquelyn: I am definitely more organic/natural in selection. I rarely buy commercial, I buy from the African store or online stores.  My products of choice are primarily home-based.

Tanya: Not in any order: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Giovanni’s Direct Leave-in Conditioner, Carol’s Daughter’s Hair Milk, 100% pure Aloe Vera Gel and my trusty comb. I can’t seem to find a pic of my beloved comb.

Sunita: Olive oil, aloe, and Crisco! Creme of Nature leave-in conditioner
is nice too.

AngelaMichelle: How did you transition or how are you choosing to transition and why?

Digi: I cut all of the relaxer out of my hair once I had about 1 inch of new growth, then I wore extensions until I had a length I was comfy with.

Jacquelyn: I stopped perming in April, started pressing, then began the loc’ing process in October. I had about 6-8 in all around when I started.

Tanya: I stopped using my “conditioner” in November 2007. Went through tons of Websites and some books. Dealt with dry hair and how to condition it. Then in July 20th decided it was time to cut. Finally BC’ed on July 23rd.

Sunita: I cut off all that I could stand to cut, let that grow out, then gradually cut the rest

AngelaMichelle: What was the single most piece of information you feel would be helpful in a book on transitioning, or natural hair in general.

Selena: Patience!

Digi: I agree with Selena. Iit takes time to get used to your hair in its natural state, and it could take some time finding styles, products, and a process of taking care of your hair.  It can be very frustrating in the beginning.

Selena: It is very frustrating in the beginning.  Think about it… How long did you go wearing your hair relaxed? For me it was over 15 years, and it wasn’t like I was doing my own hair before that.  It’s a learning process, a culture shock and then some.  You go for so long being bombarded with info saying your hair is bad and should be straightened one way or another. It takes a lot of time to re-adjust to your natural hair.  It’s not just a hair process, its a process of getting to know yourself.

It wasn’t all that eventful for me the first time around because I lived in the friggin boondocks at the time. I chopped all of my hair off and was still confident enough with myself mainly because white folks thought it was so cute

Digi: Ahh, ok. I’ve been natural for 10 years, and some people still look at me sideways and ask questions about my hair. Mostly “us”.

Selena: I always got more compliments from white women.  Only occasional head nods and smiles from our folks, who were usually older than me. My locs drew more attention, but that’s the *in* thing lately.

Digi: I wasn’t that comfy and wore extensions for a while before I showed my hair. Mostly because of lack of length. Now, I’m good.

Selena: Girl, I took a pair of clippers and gave myself a fade!  It was ‘03 right after India.Arie cut her hair before the Grammys. My ex-husband was pissed off, and I was mad at myself cause I did it in the middle of winter.

Digi: Men gave me the most crap about it.

Selena: I didn’t get a lot of that probably cause I was still married at the time.  My ex couldn’t stand it till it grew out a few inches. It wasn’t so much that I was brave, I was just prepared. I did a lot of research for like a week, and I mean a lot.  And I connected with people online who were going through the same thing. But men are mess. *smh* My ex-friend knew me when I had my locs  and went the “I don’t like women with short hair” route when I cut it, but he got over it.  And my man now… I can’t keep him out of my hair.  Literally!  But I was always cutting my hair.  The summer after my son was born I had it  chopped off but I still relaxed it.

Digi: I have been wanting to loc my hair for years. It’s the reason I went natural in the first place. I’m worried I won’t like them because I have a huge head. Really, short hair is not my friend.

Selena: That probably helped me transition too.  I was used to short hair and I knew it would grow back. Head shape does need to be taken into consideration too.

Digi: Indeed, Selena.  I didn’t need a lot of length, just something I felt comfy with. Still thinking about locs too.

Selena: I’m thinking about locs again sometime next summer… by then it’ll be time. I cut them cause they had to go.  Too much energy was stored in them that had to go, and at the time I wasn’t sure if I’d do it again. I loved my locs but when I cut them I wanted to get to know my hair again and wear it natural for a longer period of time. So I’m growing the fro/puff dealio out another year or so, and see where it takes me this time.

Digi: I’m thinking about cutting my hair off and starting over for the same reason. Folks keep talking me out of it.

Kylah: I’m still transitioning. It hasn’t been that long since I stopped relaxing. I will probably have a little anxiety once summer comes though. I am used to long straight hair and while I usually just wet it during the summer, it will be different this time.

Sunita: Here I was ready to say patience and it was already said. *lol*

***

I want to thank you ladies for sharing your opinions and experience, and allowing me to share these elements with my readers.  I wish you all the best with the rest of your journeys, whether embarking on locs, maintaining locs or just letting your hair grow and fro.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

Hey Hey Nappies!!!

How goes it?  For me, it goes relatively well and I cannot complain.  I have taken the leap and re-relocated to the great state of Ohio, this time in Columbus instead of Toledo, and I am loving every minute of it.  I have taken the daring step out on my own (the kiddies are back with their dad until I can get settled) in hopes of reestablishing myself as an “independent” woman in preparation for a divorce.  Ooooh, no need for the sympathy if there is any.  It’s a mutual decision that’s beneficial for everyone involved, so it’s all good.  Beyond all that, my journey to natural is still going strong and I am falling more in love with my kinks and coils every day.

As you can see from the above pic, my tresses are continuing to grow beautifully.  I’m at ~ 8 – 10″ now with fullness and body for days.  While I’m still getting settled here in the Capital City has taken priority over experimenting with new styles, I have not slacked when it comes to hair care.  I am still very much in love with my Hair Milk and Healthy Hair Butter.  Still washing twice a week to combat build up while allowing my hair’s natural oil production.  Still keeping my hands out of it as much as I can so that it can do what it does best… Grow.  As far as styling I’m pretty much partial to the Afro puff, like the ones in the above picture, and twists/twist outs whenever I’m in the mood to do them.  With the length and close to a year’s experience under my belt two strands are easier to do, but take a bit more time than it used to, so it’s not often that I do them.  I have entertained the idea of starting locs the next time I twist but don’t think I’m ready for such a permanent hair style just yet.  I’m having too much fun learning the wonderfulness that is my natural hair type in all its glory.

I guess the only real news concerning my journey is an exciting new project that was inspired by my Goddess Sister Tanya, a fellow natural hailing from NYC.  The project will be a natural hair care book written by moi, which will focus on transitioning using the growth method (allowing the hair to grow while cutting the permed ends off a little at a time) instead of going the weave, braid, loc or BC routes.  The reason for the book is that the current books that are on the market only skim the surface of transitioning using this process, while focusing on the other methods for their quickness and ease.  The main premise of the book is to take the assumed difficulty out of the growth method and encourage women to take the time to learn their hair before undertaking a more permanent style.  This way they learn the products that work best for their hair, as well as experience the total effects (physical, psychological and spiritual) of transitioning — developing their whole selves as their hair comes back into its own.  Now, I don’t want to let too much of the cat out of the bag, but I will say that I am extremely excited about just where this project can go.  I am blessed to have a good number of fellow Journeyers willing to help out by sharing their experiences, and while I don’t have a definite deadline for the project I’m working diligently researching and outlining the project and look forward to having a first draft done by the end of summer.

So that’s pretty much it and all for this leg of the journey so far.  No flash and no flair but still loaded with personal accomplishment and discovery.  As for the Blog, since I have more stable access to the Internet for the time being I will be able to update more frequently, bringing you the tips, tricks and recipes you’ve come to know and love.  So look forward to that in days to come.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

If you have frequented any natural hair care site or Blog I am sure you have seen the praises of this compound, known best for its moisturization benefits.  Being that I recently procured a container for myself:

I figured I’d feature it here to help get the word out to more Napturals who may have wanted to try it yet haven’t taken the leap yet.

I happened up RA Cosmetic‘s brand of shea butter one day while at Ye Olde Shoppe of Beauty, and picked it up on the premise of trying it out in a few recipes I’d discovered online.  For those unfamiliar, shea butter is a natural fat derivative of the Shea/Karite tree, which grows in the savannah belt of West Africa. Used largely in cosmetic and hair care products here in the states, shea butter is also used for cooking in certain parts of of its native continent.  In addition to its moisturizing and culinary properties, shea butter is also good for fading scars and dark spots, treatment of burns and eczema, improving muscle stiffness, and as a sunscreen. Other benefits, as outlined on the Treasured Locks Website, are:

For skin: Shea Butter nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E and F.  Vitamins A and E help maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy.  They are particularly helpful for sun damaged skin. They help prevent premature wrinkles and facial lines.  Vitamin F acts as a skin protector and rejuvenator. It soothes rough, dry or chapped skin and helps soften dry or damaged hair.  Also, Shea Butter easily penetrates the skin allowing the skin to breathe and not clogging pores.  Shea Butter has a high level of cinnamic acid, a natural sun screen.  So, it provides some degree of protection from the sun.  Shea Butter is also anti-inflammatory making it useful in treating rheumatism.

For hair: Shea Butter provides moisture to dry or damaged hair from the roots to the very tips, repairing and protecting against weather damage, dryness and brittleness.  It also absorbs quickly and completely into the scalp to rehydrate without clogging pores.  It is particularly beneficial for processed and heat-treated hair.  It is an excellent treatment for dry scalp. It restores luster to damaged hair.

So it is a multi-use product from every source I’d read, but how would it work for me was the question.

I was taking back by the initial appearance of it because I’d assumed it would be whipped and smooth like… well… butter.  But it was all good since I was sure it had to be easy to work with for some many people to use it in homemade products.  Once I got it home I found that like cocoa butter, shea butter comes in a semi-solid consistency that could be easily broken down and melted.  After learning it could be used on its own, however, I decided to forgo the recipe additions for awhile, and my introduction to the emollient turned out to be used in place of lotion after showering.  The effects were almost immediate (ie. softness, silkiness, and a sight glow to the skin) and long lasting (I applied it last night have not had to moisturize again yet), giving soothing relief to the dry, itchy skin that comes with the winter season.  Unlike commercial lotions, the butter didn’t instantly evaporate or become soaked into the skin, leaving it feeling as if I hadn’t applied anything.  Shea butter leaves a thin coating upon the skin, but unlike petroleum based moisturizers or baby oil, it’s not slick, overly greasy, or pore clogging.  It is the perfect moisturizer, especially for women of colour, and while it will take a minute to see the “fading” effects shea butter holds, I can attest to the pain relief qualities it holds too.

In the hair department, I have used pure shea butter on my edges after letting my hair air dry to “tame” them into laying down, but one of my favourite dressings — Carol’s Daughter’s Healthy Hair Butter — contains a good portion of the compound, and I can attest that it does soften the hair and help it maintain moisture.

Since this was just my first experience with shea butter, I thought I’d ask a few of my associates and friends who have used it for some time now, their thoughts on the product, and here is their feedback:

Jordayn offers: I use it on [this] dry skin of mine as of recent.  This winter brought out my severe dry skin.  I tried putting lotion on, I tried baby oil… I tried everything!  But when I tried the Shea., it lasted for me and made my skin a lot better and it was no longer dry.  My lotions were drying out during the day too.

Jacqueline says: I use unrefined shea butter.  It makes my skin super soft and all glowy like. I use it in my hair before washing to soften and after to shine.

Michelle, owner of Pegasus Soaps shares: It works better than anything I [have] ever used.  I like how it makes my skin feel smooth and the appearance of my skin. I also use shea butter in my homemade lotions too.

and Tanya adds: I have never used it on my hair, but I use it for the heels of my feet.  [It's] one of the cheapest, longest lasting products, and it works.

So the general consensus is, this is a product that is well worth the purchase, and offers amazing results for dry skin and healthy hair.  On its own or as a chief ingredient to your homemade and commercial products.  While there are many retailers who offer shea butter,  there a few things one must consider when purchasing it for themselves:

1. Shea butter should only be yellow or a creamy colour, ranging from white to gray or beige.  It should never be green.

2. When considering the type of shea butter to purchase or use, unrefined is best, as if is pure and natural.  Unrefined would be next on the scale because although it has been bleached, it still retains most of its natural components.

3. The longer it has been shelved, the less healing properties remain present, so try to avoid buying “old” shea butter.  If you purchase unrefined shea butter and either  has no odor to it or is rancid smelling, more than likely, it is old and should not be used.

4. When buying commercial products that claim to contain shea butter, READ THE INGREDIENT LIST CAREFULLY!!!  There are many manufacturers looking to make a quick sell based on the shea butter buzz, yet use very little of the compound in their products.  Make sure shea butter is one of the first ingredients listed to ensure you’re getting the most shea butter possible for your benefit.

Need to know more?  Well, a great resource for information on shea butter can be found at the American Shea Butter Institute, including reputable retailers by grade, as well as The Organic Shea Butter Website, which lists the various uses and benefits of using the substance.

Prices for shea butter range according to quantity (I believe my 10 oz. container was close to $4), and can be bought in bulk for both personal and commercial use.

So there you have it!  A veritable cosmetic wonderkind for both hair and skin, that is well worth its weight in natural beauty gold.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

As for the look, as you can see from the picture above, although the twists looked properly executed, the twist style that I used wasn’t very flattering to my face shape (in my opinion, anyway).

Twist Take Two, which came just three weeks after Take One, wasn’t any more successful than my first attempt, but I was getting better with manipulating the twists and had perfected the skill of moistening each section as I got to it.  Visually, I still was not pleased with the result, mostly due to the length I lost as each twist dried, which further contributed to the “picaninny perception” I had of  the style.  Furthermore, I was still having the problem with twisting the base tight enough so that it would not unravel, which made necessary my third attempt:

The third time was very much the charm for me.  I like the appearance of the twists, although I was still disappointed by the natural shrinkage once they dried.  I’d enlisted the use of steel clips to aid in keeping the strands from unraveling so much at the base of each twist, as well as to keep each twist straight, which resulted in neater rows throughout.  I also added the element of a side part. Following the side part I was able to control the direction of the twists a bit better, and I could style them from center to side instead of simply from front to back.  I was pleased enough with this effort to wear it on short excursions to the outside world.

Twist set four was sublime perfection!  In just two months from my third attempt I’d gained a bit of length, which graced me with thicker twists from  base to tip and helped give a  fuller look to the style.  By three months into the game it was pretty much old hat, so I could pattern the twists however I wanted to.  I pretty much stayed with the regular so that I could achieve this:

A head full of thick and luscious corkscrews, which was part of the reason I’d started working with two strand twists in the first place.  When I’d first started the journey back to natural I’d envied twist out and braid out styles I’d seen on celebs and other Journeyers, which reminded me of times when I was younger and loved the crinkle wave look of my hair when it was unbraided.

It’s funny, now that I look back to my beginnings of dealing with this style, to see how nervous I was at the start of trying twists on for size.  I saw it as so complicated and was scared I’d do it wrong, resulting in being ticketed by the Naptural Hair Police for “perpetrating a fraud” because my nappy virgin efforts were so removed from what two strand twist “should” look like.  I was scared to wear them too far from home because I wasn’t sure I’d gotten the process down right, and for the most part they still reminded me of Buckwheat.  Now… I see it as a process in learning my hair, learning the style and learning not to compare myself to media images I see represented on celebs and models who have had their twists professionally styled.  It was also an exercise in patience… knowing my hair would not look how I wanted until it regained health and length, and until it did I’d have to make peace with what I had to work with.  And I did.  I cared for my hair as best I could, kept my hands out of it, which was my promise to myself, and learned to deal with it on its terms.  Three months later I was blessed with this result of my labour:

So there is my Twist Transformation, from start to “finish”.  It has been both frustrating and fun and helped me to learn my hair, so I would not trade any moment of it for the world.  It’s been a beautiful struggle.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

And here are the results!

Recipes are rated on a scale of 1 – 5 Afro Picks… 1 being the lowest rating, and something I would not use again or recommend, and 5 being the highest rating of something I’d most likely use again within the next five minutes. *lol*

And heeeeeeeeeeeeere we go…

Milk and Oat Mask –

Putting this recipe together is as simple as making a bowl of your favourite breakfast cereal. Simply cook the oat, add the milk and honey, and *VIOLA*! Since the oats are cooked, I didn’t have as difficult a time applying the mask as I did with the Oatmeal and Honey Mask from week one. It was, however, just as messy, so if you dare to try this mask you want to make sure you do it over a sink or at the bathroom counter.

Clean up is relatively easy as well, once you get all the honey off, and the after effects are smooth skin and “small” pores. You want to make sure to use a toner as a follow-up to make sure your pores are open enough to get rid of any of the mask that may have embedded itself, and I found it very necessary to moisturize once all was said and done.

While I won’t be personally using this recipe again, I do recommend it for all skin types, at least once a week.

***

Sugar and Olive Oil Lip Balm – 1/2

This may not replace my beloved Blistix anytime soon, but I do hold a slight affinity for this mixture, simply because I love olive oil. I used turbinado sugar instead of regular granulated sugar, to really get the exfoliation effect going.

Application takes a bit of finesse since olive oil has a somewhat drippy consistency, but once the mixture was on my lips the results were almost instant! Not too “greasy” yet very very smooth, giving my lips a full and sexy softness.

Unfortunately, this was not a long lasting balm. Within about two minutes my lips soaked up most of it, and I needed to reapply. A travel container may be necessary if you take this on the go, because several applications might be in order.

***

Cool Tea Eye Compress –

I really don’t suffer from puffy eye syndrome, but I figured I’d give this recipe a try since I read a lot… to give my eyes a “refresher” of sorts.

As simple as making a cup of tea because essentially, that’s exactly what you’re doing! So this recipe doubles as a thirst quencher as well!

I used green tea, and followed the directions accordingly. Once the time elapsed I can say that my eyes did indeed feel a bit “fresher”, if you can imagine that. Beyond that, this recipe didn’t do much for me, but I’d still recommend it for those who do suffer puffy eyes or constant eye strain.

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So there you have it. If you do try any of the recipes out, I’d love to hear your results. You can leave a comment here or send them to me via Email at amichelle@journeyback2me.com.

I wish you happy experimenting!

Healthy Hair Wishes,

Keeping in line with the theme of transitioning, again, from the pages of NaturalHairGuide.com, here are some popular protective hair styles ideas that will keep your hair hands free and growing healthily!

Transitioning Styles

by Amy, founder of NaturalHairCareGuide.com

What makes a good transitional hair style? Good questions. A good transitional hairstyle keeps hair handling to a minimum. That doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t comb or brush your hair while you are transitioning. It just means that less in this case really is more.

Always remember to work with your natural hair and not against it. If you keep this in mind during your transition as well as when you hair is completely natural, you and your hair will be much happier.

Pressing it is NOT the answer
You may be thinking to yourself, “I’ll just press the roots so that they will both be straight while it grows out.”

Bad idea. For one thing going natural means that you are beginning to learn how to work with your hear. You will have to start [somewhere]. Why not now? The skills of tender considerate hair care that you learn now will help you when your hair is completely natural.

The other reason is that you will run the risk of snapping it of at the weakest point, the place where the relaxed hair and natural hair meet.

In general it is best to stay [away] from heat. You have so many other options that shouldn’t be a problem.

Transitional Hairstyles
When choosing a transitional natural hair style it is important to think about how you usually wear your hair. One of the biggest mistakes that many people make is thinking that there is a certain look or that their hair has to look a certain way to be natural. Being natural is being chemical free point blank.

Pick a style that suits you. If you are a conservative person you may want to go with conservative style. If you are daring the sky is the limit. Pick a style or combination of styles that are best for you.

Some good transitional styles are :

• Braids with extensions
• Two Strand Twists
• Comb Coils/Twists
• Straw Sets
• Cornrows with or without extensions
• Braid/Twist Outs

Braids with extensions
Braids have been a normal “in” style for a while now. There are lots of braiding gallery magazines that will give you ideas. Although many of the styles may be pushing the limits a little than you may be comfortable with you can get some good ideas.

When going to get braids DO NOT get micro braids or extra tiny individuals. They are not good for you hair to begin with. And they are an absolute pain to take out. Remember you are looking for styles that will require little handling. Tiny braids are prone to get tangled when you try to take them out. As your hair grows your hair will snap off more when you have to untangle it.

Try to stick with braids that you don’t need a tooth pick or pin to pick out. With the wide variety of extension braid styles finding a hair healthy size shouldn’t be a problem.

Cornrows with or without extensions
If you don’t like sitting for a long time to get braids, but want a style that will last for some time, cornrows are a good choice. Like braids they have been in for a while. Even though cornrows have now become associated with men as well as women there are many very feminine cornrow styles. Braiding books are a good place to look for ideas.

Although not as tedious to take out as tiny braids tiny cornrows especially with extensions can be a pain to take out both literally and figuratively.

Curled Two Strand Twists or Twist Out
I honestly think that two strand twists on relaxed hair only look nice if you curl them. I think that plain two strand twists look straight and stringy on relaxed hair. But that is just my opinion do what suits you best.

To do Curled Two Strand Twists you will need:

• Large tooth comb
• Metal free or Ouchless rubber bands
• Banana Clips
• Moisture lotion
• Curlers (optional)
• End papers (if using curlers)
• Bonnet dryer
• Spray bottle with water.

Directions:

This style is best done when your hair is with freshly washed, detangled, and still damp.

Apply moisture lotion generously through out your hair.

If your hair begins to dry out, mist it with the water in the spray bottle.

Depending on how much new growth you have and how manageable your hair is you may want to use the rubber bands to separate your hair into six or eight sections. Doing this will also keep your hair from drying out.

Starting from the back, part or pull of a small (half inch) square of hair from the rest. Clip the rest out of the way.

Separate that section into two parts and crossing one part over the other until you get to the end.

Put a piece of end paper on your hair, roll and secure.

I’ve found it easiest to work in rows left to right top to bottom.

Sit under a bonnet dryer until your hair dries.

When dry unroll carefully and style with fingers.

I’ve found that you can wear this style for a few days as is. The for a softer look you can un twist the twists. And wear it for a few more days.

Lightly mist your hair with a moisture spray or braid spray daily.

Remember to tie your hair up at night with a silk or satin scarf to preserve the style.

Straw Sets
For a straw set you will need:

• Large tooth comb
• Metal free or Ouchless rubber bands
• Banana Clips
• Moisture lotion
• Setting Gel (alcohol free)
• Drinking straws
• Bobby pins
• Bonnet dryer
• Spray bottle with water.

Directions:

This style is best done when your hair is with freshly washed, detangled, and still damp.

Apply moisture lotion and setting gel generously [throughout] your hair.

If your hair begins to dry out, mist it with the water in the spray bottle.

Depending on how much new growth you have and how manageable your hair is you may want to use the rubber bands to separate your hair into six or eight sections. Doing this will also keep your hair from drying out.

Starting from the back, part or pull of a small (half inch) square of hair from the rest. Clip the rest out of the way.

Take one drinking straw start wrapping your hair around the straw from one end of the drinking straw to the other. You are trying to cover the straw with your hair not roll your hair with the straw. Think tight Shirley Temple curls or long coils.

Secure both ends with bobby pins. Repeat until done

I’ve found it easiest to work in rows left to right top to bottom.

Sit under a bonnet dryer until your hair dries.

When it is dry take the bobby pins out of each end and then gently slide the straw off.

Arrange with your fingers.

Lightly mist your hair with a moisture spray or braid spray daily.

Remember to tie your hair up at night with a silk or satin scarf to preserve the style.

Braid Out or Crinkly Set
Braid-outs look cute curled or uncurled. I think curling gives you more options.

To do Curled Two Strand Twists you will need:

• Large tooth comb
• Metal free or Ouchless rubber bands
• Banana Clips
• Moisture lotion
• Curlers (optional)
• End papers (if using curlers)

Directions:

This style is best done when your hair is damp.

Apply moisture lotion generously [throughout] your hair.

If your hair begins to dry out, mist it with the water in the spray bottle.

Depending on how much new growth you have and how manageable your hair is you may want to use the rubber bands to separate your hair into six or eight sections. Doing this will also keep your hair from drying out.

Starting from the back, part or pull of a square of hair from the rest. The larger the section the larger the crinkle and vice versa. Clip the rest out of the way.

Braid that section to the end.

(optional) Put a piece of end paper on your hair, roll and secure.

I’ve found it easiest to work in rows left to right top to bottom.

(optional ) If you are curling, sit under a bonnet dryer until your hair dries.

When dry unroll carefully and style with fingers.

I’ve found that you can wear this style for a few days as is. The for a softer look you can un twist the twists. And wear it for a few more days.

Lightly mist your hair with a moisture spray or braid spray daily.

Remember to tie your hair up at night with a silk or satin scarf to preserve the style.

Flat Twists

Flat twist can be done straight back like cornrows. You can also flat twist the front and straw set or braid/twist out the back.

To do flat twists you will need:

• Rat tail comb
• Metal free or Ouchless rubber bands
• Banana Clips
• Moisture lotion

Directions:

This style is best done when your hair is damp.

Apply moisture lotion generously [throughout] your hair.

Depending on how much new growth you have and how manageable your hair is you may want to use the rubber bands to separate your hair into six or eight sections. Doing this will also keep your hair from drying out.

Use the back end of the rat tail comb to make straight clean parts.

Put a little bit of gel on the section to be twisted.

Starting at the beginning of the row, separate a small section in to two parts.

Cross one strand over another, pick up hair as you work your way back.

When you get to the end, secure your flat twist with a bobby pin.

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Thanks again Amy and NaturalHairGuide.com!