mmichelle | 
01 27th, 2009| 
Hey Hey World!
It has been a minute since I was able to check in with commenters and respond to reader’s questions, so since I have the opportunity now, let’s get that, shall we?
In response to Journey Feature — Bucket ‘O Bulletz, Suni herself offers:
Thank you for choosing me for this interview. It was a lot of fun. I appreciate you looking up those resources for me and will be checking them out very soon!
No, the pleasure and appreciation was all mine! Thank you for agreeing to do the feature. I hope to feature you again soon and also hope those resources have worked for you!
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Following Suni on the same post, Lisa Marie Mary adds:
What an interesting interview – I learned a lot! And I’m so glad …or more than that — I don’t know quite how to say it — it just warms my heart and makes me feel so good to hear people say things about hair and the importance and spiritual nature of it, [which] I have felt for so long and never quite been able to voice.
Thank you so much Lisa! I think it works well to view the process of hair care as a spiritual process, to keep you mindful of just how important and closely linked it is to holistic well-being. Being Native, I know Suni’s view of her hair and her transitioning process is a sincere extension of her faith and heritage. I will be sure to pass along your comment. Thanks for reading.
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Nappily Yours had this to say about Journey Spotlight 02 - Nappturality:
I’m going natural right now… I’m still in the very, very early stages… lol, but this website seems really interesting and informative. I hope that it’ll be worth it!
When I first started out I frequented, and became a member of Nappturality and learned a great deal of foundational information to get me started. While I am still a member, I have not been active there in quite awhile because my Journey has taken a different direction than what is represented on the site. But I will always recommend it as a great resource for vets and newbies alike. I hope you enjoy your time there and learn a lot. Thanks for reading!
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Glad to see that you haven’t given up blogging! I’d just assumed you’d taken a summer vacation!
Hey there! Yes, I was forced to take a “vakay” for a few months, which pained me greatly. But here I am again. Still not as regularly as I’d like but it’s still wonderful to be back in any capacity. Thanks so much for continuing to check on me. It is very much appreciated!
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After reading Journey Guest 08 – On a Mission to Transition, Tyka commented:
Hello, I’m so happy to have stumbled [upon] this article because my quest for my natural hair has not been a [successful] one. A few months ago I decided that I was going to grow my natural hair out, my mom was fully behind and so were my friends. However, after 5 or 6 months I got completely discouraged. My hair was a mess I had [no] clue what to do with it so I got it relaxed and told myself that later on I would try again. But this time just a few short months later [I have] decided to start all over and this time isn’t an attempt. I’m not one to NOT follow through like I did the first time, but I really had no idea what I was getting into. (Did I mention that I’m 16?) This helped A LOT. [It’s] been three or four months since my last relaxer but I still flatten my hair after every shampoo and condition. I plan on changing that and setting up some kind of plan for my hair (like getting my hair done regularly in straw sets, braids, etc.). This has completely convinced me to go the natural way. (Again)
It always does my heart good to hear that any part of my Journey has inspired someone else, so thank you so much for your comment. Although the article was not written by me personally, I added it because there are very few resources out there for straight transitioning. I am glad it helped you return to your efforts, and I wish you much luck and love in the days to come.
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Lovely Lady Luxe sp0ke her piece in response to Special Interest – Natural Terminology:
This glossary will definitely come in handy! I’ve been natural for over 8 years and I know when I first started out, I would hear some of these terms and I’d be like “Say, huh?”. The terms can be kinda confusing to a natural hair newby.
Indeed! That is exactly why I chose to include the terms because I was so lost when trying to research resources, style techniques and products. Just wanted to help make it as simple for other Naptural virgins coming up after me. *smile*
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Journey Special Interest – Wrap it Up! garnered this comment from belle cheveux:
Great post! I always wanted to learn how to do a wrap with a scarf.
One of my claims to transitioning “fame” has been my ability to keep my hands out of my hair, and it is because of my bun wraps that this has been possible. I love the versatility hair wraps offer, and the protection they offer and figured others could benefit from the how-to videos. I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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Roni had these words to say about In the Mix Fridays - Results:
Wow, I love those [recipes]. I’ve gotta try that ACV Rinse w/ rosemary. I like to [use] those but I forget about them, lol. Trying new things on our hair is what is soo fun about being natural.
I so miss my In the Mix Friday experiments. *sigh* It’s really fun to get in the test kitchen and get my hands into products I know are good for my hair and skin. I personally swear by the ACV/rosemary rinse and keep a mason jar full of it on hand. It never fails to leave my hair and scalp free of product build up so my pours breathe and growth is promoted. I am glad you enjoyed the post, and hope you join me for more in the future.
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Happy to be Nappy? inspired Kimmy to share her thoughts and experiences:
Hi,
Interesting blog. I have natural hair, and have never (ever ever) straightened or relaxed it. I really feel sorry for the black women in the U.S. who are only now ‘going natural’, because they should have never gone unnatural in the first place. I’m happy to live in a (Caribbean) country where natural is normal, and that, while relaxing hair is done, we are not pressured to do as a means of fitting in, and twists, braids, and so on are seen on a regular basis (I always wonder though at the many girls here who DO relax their hair to make it more manageable only to have it fried in the hot Caribbean sun).
My hair has been about mid-back for… for…ever! (I’m exaggerating, I’m only 16, and I’m pretty sure it was longer when I was younger) and I’m wondering about a few things:
If I stay healthy and take amazingly good care of my hair, how long should my hair be by the end of the year? Is it possible for my hair to reach waist, or even hip-length, or am I stuck at mid-back? If it is possible, how long should it take?
Do you believe hair skin and nail vitamins really work?
Is it necessary to trim split ends? I trimmed off the ends of my hair (for the first time in my life) a couple months ago and when I look I already have splits, so I get the feeling all I did was shorten my hair by about a quarter of an inch uselessly. Does it matter if I trim?
Good luck on your journey.
You have said more than a mouthful Kimmy. *lol* Ya know, it was a Caribbean man who “convinced” me to go natural, and I use quotes because I’d always wanted to get out of the vicious perming cycle, but never felt supported enough to do it. So I am grateful to him for that, and truly understand where it is you’re coming from. It is truly sad that American women of colour are just now fully embracing the natural beauty of their coils, kinks and curls, but I am hopeful this trend is changing currently… one nappy head at a time.
To answer your questions, from what I’ve read, hair grows at a rate of 1/2 an inch a month on average, so how long your hair is capable of growing within a year’s time truly depends on how quickly your hair grows. Yes, healthy habits are a factor in hair growth, and while I have seen many an article about preventing hair loss by maintaining and healthy diet, I am not sure it can change your hair’s natural growth rate.
Do I believe hair/nail vitamins work? Well that depends. You have to treat supplements the same way you treat your hair care products — READ, READ, READ your labels. Vitamin compounds that are specifically good for hair are “B complex, biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, iron, zinc, flax seed oil, black currant seed oil, kelp and silica” (Casey, Bonnie, 5 hair Care Secrets, www.salonweb.com/features/hairarticle_101804.htm), so any supplement slated for hair should contain one or more of those elements. Also, do your own research in lieu of simply picking up a bottle with “hair” on the label. Learn the best vitamins and minerals for hair on your own, that way you can experiment with what works best for your hair type.
Trimming, from what I have read, is an essential factor for maintaining healthy hair, although I have heard that it doesn’t cause hair to grown any faster than it normally world. Consider the fact that each strand of hair is like a string of rope. When you begin to unravel the rope at its end, what happens? It eventually unravels all the way to the other end. If left untrimmed, split ends can become split shafts, and split shaft become split roots, making the damage worse. The only way I know of to prevent split ends, thereby preventing the need to trim them, is to take excellent care of your hair.
I hope this answered your questions, and I think you so much for reading.
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Additionally, Pascale commented on the aforementioned post with:
Hi,
I like your blog. I too have natural hair, which I am crazy about, btw. More and more women are going natural, that’s an excellent thing considering the pressure to live up to the chemical standards of our time.
Thank you so much, and I totally agree with you! It is a wonderful thing to see so many of us breaking the chemical shackles and being proud to rock and learn our very own brand of beauty. I applaud you in your love for your tresses, and you continued affinity for it in the years to come.
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By way of encouragement to Twist & Shout: Twist Out – Take Two, nofakees shared:
You look cute with this style!! It really fits your face. I say go on out and face the world HAPPY 2 BE NAPPY!
Danke schoen! I really have fun with the twist outs, although I love the longer version I have now in comparison to the short. But the humble begins were a wonderful training ground. *smile*
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Last but not in the least bit least, Suni and ladymsw tag team responded to New Year, New Me! by saying:
Suni: GURL Your hair has really grown! I am so proud of you! YAY US!!! So, your new stuff sounds good. I am using cocoa butter in my homemade butter mix. I am about to get castor oil and [Crisco] *yes i said CRISCO* to try out, since hearing so much about them. I want to compare the results between castor vs. olive, regular soy oil vs. [Crisco’s] cottonseed and soy oil mix… It should be interesting
ladymsw: Hi. I like your blog. Next month will mark two years since I stopped being a slave to the perm and I couldn’t be any happier with the “new” me. I used to live in Ann Arbor and yes, Metro Detroit is the processed hair capital of the world. I’m actually on my way to Sephora to pick up some Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk. If you’re interested in homemade stuff, a friend told me that mixing raw shea butter with a small amount of beeswax and any oil of your choice will do wonders. Good luck to you.
Suni - This has been such a wonderful experience for me, and having encouraging supporters like you. I can not wait to see the result of all your experimenting. *wink*
ladymsw – That two year mark is a sight to behold, isn’t it? I am so glad to finally gotten my hands on some CD Hair Milk, and love every drop of it, but will try the shea butter/beeswax/oil recipe and see how that works.
Thank you ladies both for reading and commenting. It means a lot!
Healthy Hair Wishes,
Keep on keeping on my chemical free sister!
