Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care

Erica, an NFL Cheerleader writes:


This is my signature style. I never really change it, and if i do, I just throw a headband on it.

I do the following 3 times a week:

1. Wash my hair with Pantene Pro-V volumizer shampoo

2. Comb through my hair with a wide tooth comb while shampoo is still in hair.

3. Rinse and follow with Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner. Mixed Chicks wash out conditioner doesn't' work for me.

4. After the conditioner is in, and while hair is still wet, I put LaBella styling gel (the pink gel)

5. I then put heat protection gel on my hair and blow dry on hot for about 10 minutes and let the rest air dry.

I hope y'all have good luck with this remedy, it works for me!!

Hola Chicas,

I'm bustin' outta this joint! We're headed home today and I couldn't be happier! My stay at the Birthing Center was pleasant enough- - I had my own spacious room, a flat screen/dvd player and pretty decent room service. But there's no place like home :-) I never let the nursing staff take her away for the night, so the only help I received was from the lactation consultant. I was totally annoyed by the late night blood pressure and temperature checks and the way people would just barge in without knocking... well sometimes they'd knock, but it was more of a 'warning' knock rather than an 'asking' knock. By day 3 I was totally pissed and apparently began acting bitchy because they left me alone ;-)

In other news my body is changing before my eyes. My deflated tummy is very dark (like two shades darker than the rest of me), as if the life was sucked out of it, or Gia had the lights cut off prior to her eviction. I hope the discoloration will fade soon. I can definitely say that it has flattened out significantly and resembles more of a 4 month prego belly. My boobs... FRIGGIN' HUGE! Like grease 'em up, porno huge. It's crazy how my body is on a timer-- every few hours my breasts swell up as a reminder that I'm supposed to feed someone. Pretty cool.

I've been very emotional over the past few days. But the most touching experience has been watching hubby bond with baby. It sounds so cliche, but I definitely have fallen in love with him all over again- - watching him fall in love with her. The way they look at each other is beautiful.

Waiting for us at home are my parents, my grandmother and my uncle. Three pm is check out time and I'm sitting here anxiously waiting by the door, LOL!

I'll be back in touch soon!

Later Gators,
Nik

Edited to Add: So yeah, Gia had her first blowout a moment ago (poop up her back)...perfect timing, eh? Daddy brought her a new dress though-- a pink one that has no poo on it... yet :-)

Recipe of the Week:

Healthy Pancake Mix

(from www.eatingwell.com)

With this whole-grain mix on hand, you can enjoy homemade pancakes on busy weekday mornings. This is also a great item to pack on camping trips. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze the mix as flaxseed meal is highly perishable. Others have also used almond milk in substitution for the cow’s milk and have had great results.

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

6 cups pancake mix (makes 18 servings, 2 pancakes each)

2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour

1 cup buttermilk powder, (see Note)

5 tablespoons dried egg whites, such as Just Whites (see Note)

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup flaxseed meal, (see Note)

1 cup nonfat dry milk

1/2 cup wheat bran, or oat bran

Preparation

1. Whisk flour, buttermilk powder, dried egg whites, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Stir in flaxseed meal, dry milk and bran. Makes 6 cups pancake mix. To make pancakes:

2. Combine 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk, 1/4 cup canola oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a glass measuring cup.

3. Place 2 cups pancake mix in a large bowl. (Refrigerate the remaining pancake mix in an airtight container for up to 1 month or freeze for up to 3 months.) Make a well in the center of the pancake mix. Whisk in the milk mixture until just blended; do not overmix. (The batter will seem quite thin, but will thicken up as it stands.) Let stand for 5 minutes.

4. Coat a nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Whisk the batter. Using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake, cook pancakes until the edges are dry and bubbles begin to form, about 2 minutes. Turn over and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes longer. Adjust heat as necessary for even browning. Makes 6 servings, 2 pancakes each.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Refrigerate the dry mix in an airtight container for up to 1 month or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes:

Buttermilk powder, such as Saco Buttermilk Blend, is a useful substitute for fresh buttermilk. Look in the baking section or with the powdered milk in most markets.

Dried egg whites are convenient in recipes calling for egg whites because there is no waste. Look for brands like Just Whites in the baking or natural-foods section of most supermarkets or online at bakerscatalogue.com.

**You can find flaxseed meal in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets. You can also start with whole flaxseeds:

Grind 2/3 cup whole flaxseeds to yield 1 cup.

Nutrition

Per serving:

272 calories; 13 g fat (2 g sat, 6 g mono); 8 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrates; 12 g protein; 5 g fiber; 471 mg sodium; 336 mg potassium.

Fitness Tip of the Week: The Stability Ball and Your Abs

The stability ball, an extra-large inflatable orb designed to improve balance while targeting specific muscle groups, has grown vastly in popularity since its introduction in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The stability ball can be adapted for a vast number of uses. Some include improving posture, facilitating stretching as well as many others. Thanks to the interest of fitness professionals, the stability ball have been incorporated into several exercise programs developed for just about every need, desire and body part.

Much of the exercise that people do focuses on the lower body with very little attention paid to the trunk, or core, of the body. The muscles of the core, the abdomen, chest, and back, stabilizes the rest of the body. We must remember that the core links the upper and lower body together and having a solid core creates a foundation for all activities, especially when adding weights to your workout. It’s important to create a balance between the muscles of the abdomen and the back. Many people will have a muscle imbalance naturally between the abdominal muscles and the lower-back muscles. However, if these muscles are not correctly strengthened and developed a muscle imbalance can later present itself. Using a stability balls can help develop and strengthen these muscles as well as prevent and in some cases correct muscle imbalances. By using the stability ball to strengthen your core, your posture will improve and you will find that you are generally more balanced and aware of your movements.

Here are three examples of exercises that can be performed with a standard stability ball that target all three major sections of the abdominal muscles:

Spine Trunk Curl:

Start with the top of the ball between the center of the back. Your feet should be flat on the floor. Press the lower back into the ball and tighten the abdominals as you curl the rib cage toward the pelvis. Slowly return to starting position.

Supine Oblique Curl:

Start with the top of the ball beneath the center of the back, then stagger your feet and rotate your hips to one side. Anchor the lower hip to the ball and move the rib cage in a diagonal direction toward the legs (for example, right elbow to left inner thigh). Make sure your neck and pelvis are stable.

Forward Transverse Roll:

Kneel on the floor and place your forearms on the ball, making sure your hips and arms form a 90-degree angle. From this starting position, roll the ball forward as you simultaneously extend your arms and legs. Contract your abdominals to help support your lower back, which should not be strained. Roll as far forward as possible without compressing the spine, drooping the shoulders or rounding the torso.

Stability balls can be found in just about any store that sells fitness equipment. It is important to buy the right size ball and maintain the proper air pressure. The firmer the ball, the more difficult the exercise will be. The softer the ball, the easier the exercise will be. If you are just beginning, overweight or an active older adult, you might want to consider using a larger, softer ball. When sitting on the ball your knees and hips should align at a 90-degree angle.

You can use the following guidelines for buying the right size stability ball:

• Under 4'6" (137 cm): 30 cm ball (12 inches)

• 4'6"–5'0" (137–152 cm): 45 cm ball

(18 inches)

• 5'1"–5'7" (155–170 cm): 55 cm ball

(22 inches)

• 5'8"–6'2" (173–188 cm): 65 cm ball

(26 inches)

• Over 6'2" (188 cm): 75 cm ball (30 inches)

Until next week, stay happy and healthy!

KinkySheaPT

"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment." - Author Unknown

So what if your manager didn't praise you for how well you did on that project? So what if your child is not a straight A student? So what if you don't have a brand new car like your neighbor? So what if you are 30 and have not conquered the world yet? So what if you are in debt? Should you feel unworthy, inadequate or ashamed? Of course not! I say, So What? You try it. So what??

Think about why these things bother you so much. Are you worried about what people think? Do you think someone else is getting an edge up on you? Do you think you are missing something? Do you worry that you will be left behind? Are you worried about losing something that defines you? Are you scared to fail? Scared to succeed? Scared that it's too late???

As long as you believe that someone or something outside of yourself can deny your good, you are not ready to have it.

When you make your happiness dependent on a particular turn of events, this is a sure way to lead yourself right into disappointment and stress. People will not always praise you, uplift you, or even notice you when you wish they would. Circumstances change without warning, and challenges may seem to appear every time you are ready to move forward, blocking you from carrying out your plans. When the resulting anger, frustration and fear build up, we often want to look outward to assign blame.

Life is a mystery that we must unravel at our own pace and in our own way. If you allow the external things that you see to determine how you feel about your life, peace will continue to elude you. If you focus all of your attention on the center of your being and ask yourself "What is it that I must learn?" The answers will come.

You are on a journey of love and discovery - not a race to the finish. The truth is that while you are walking along in this life, leaving your footprints here and there, acquiring things and losing things, making strides and losing your footing - so is everyone else. There is no finish line or final exam. It's self-defeating to compare yourself or to try and prove yourself to anyone because your journey is beautifully yours and yours alone.

Evelyn of NaturallyCurly.com writes:

For those new to the natural scene as well as old time curlies who just haven’t gotten the hang of it, there’s nothing more overwhelming (and time consuming) than figuring out a hair regimen! Returning to your natural texture is usually a time of education and experimentation, but to avoid wasting products, money and energy, here is a starting point for creating and KEEPING your naturally curly hair regimen.

MelMelBee writes:


Melanie writes:

Ok, so I just got the papers in the mail to renew my driver's license which expires in October. I'll also need to take a new picture. As soon as I put down the papers, I immedietely began to think about what hair style I should have for the license picture. This will be my first Driver's License profiling me in all my natural splendor. I mean...this is a big deal! Your Driver's License/Photo ID is what get's you access into places, beyond security checkpoints, get's you money from the bank, etc. On my last vacation the TSA officer at the airport stared at my license for about 30 minutes (OK, an exaggeration) to make sure I was the same person. I'm excited but perplexed all at the same time.

I have had several requests for natural flower girl hair styles. Because I don't think I'm very good with fancier/special occasion hair styles I decided to Google for inspiration. I didn't find one natural flower girl hair style so I will be having a series of Natural Flower Girl Hair Styles for our little girls. I hope you all enjoy!



I call this Two Strand Twisted Halo With Cornrows, since one of the twists go across her forehead, I thought it looked kind of like a halo.

Instructions:

• Start with freshly washed hair. You want to make sure the hair is wet to acheive this look.


• In the front middle section by the forehead, part half of a moon shape. This is where you will add your cornrows. Tie that section off to get it out of your way.


• You will now begin twisting the hair. I parted some hair out around the nape area, added some Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer and Bee Mine Curly Butter to that entire section, finger combed, then began grabbing medium sections with my fingers. You can use your choice of moisturizer/styler. I did not part the hair. I just grabbed and started twisting. If your child has thick hair, it will cover up any "unfortunate" parts, if your child has thin hair, you may want to use a comb to part the hair. In each medium section I just crossed the right strand over the left, right over left, right over left. Once I got to the end of each twist I rolled the ends between my thumb and index (pointer) finger.


• I grabbed medium sections with my fingers, added our products, and twsited until I was done with her entire head.


• I then moved on to the section I previously parted for cornrowing. I started by parting on the left side of the moon shape, at a slight slant. I cornrowed that section. Once I was at the end of the cornrow, I had three sections, I added the sections together and made two sections so I can do a two strand twist.


• After the first cornrow, I moved on to the right side and did the same exact thing. At this point I have one cornrow on the left at a slight slant, and one on the right at a slant.


• I then parted four "triangle" sections in the middle and cornrowed those.


• After cornrowing the half moon shape, I took one twist from the right side and pulled it across her forehead. I used one bobbypin to hold it down.


• I added four of those cute rhinestone spin pins I bought from Walmart. They spun in her hair like butter! No snags or anything. That was it!

Total Styling Time: 30 minutes

CN: Are you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I am definitely a long transitioner! This month ‘officially’ makes 1-year. But as I write, I realize that it has been more like 14-months! I had braids for most of the summer of 2009. When I took my braids out I just could not bring myself to put anymore cream crack in my head! So I began to search for other ways to style my hair straight without relaxing. I came across Diva Smooth. For me at the time, I really didn’t realize I was transitioning; I just wasn’t relaxing. My 13-year old decided she no longer wanted a relaxer. I was shocked! She had only had a relaxer for 2 years but just hated the process.



With the Diva Smooth I was able to wear my hair the same way without chemicals. Then this summer, I unexpectedly went home to New Orleans (the humidity capital of the south!!!). I was home for the death of my step-father and my mother and I had several errands to run in preparation for the funeral. I had washed my hair the night I arrived and flat-ironed as usual. My hair was gorgeous, then I walked outside and it puffed up. We were out and about and no help in sight! We stopped at a store similar to Marshall’s. I grabbed a wrap and threw it on my head. The wrap was really big, so I twisted and did a big bun in the bag. It was fly! This was when I wrestled with going to get a box of creamy crack or embracing my hair in its natural state. For the rest of the week, I experimented with different styles; mostly a French roll or my wrap.

I called my girlfriend back in DC that is natural too. She told me if I could go without the relaxer in the ‘Big Easy’ (N.O.) then I could definitely do it when I got back. And I did. As soon as I returned home, I hit the internet researching and came across CN!!! It was like the light bulb went off. I had seen some other sites but CN had so much information. This is when I realized that I had been ‘transitioning’ all this time but not in the best way with so much heat usage.

Immediately I began trying twist-outs, Bantu knots and roller sets. The twist-n-curl is fast becoming my favorite.

CN: When do you plan to BC?
I probably won’t BC; not because I’m scared or anything, but I have had short hair for the past 20 years. It is never been a big thing for me to cut my hair and keep it moving! I always seemed my most confident when I rocked a short do; especially when I cut it down like Jada in the last scene of ‘Set It Off’! But I’m going on 40 and actually having hair is a BIG change for me, so I have decided to transition as long as possible, but I can’t stay away from the scissors. I find when my wiry relaxed ends stick out; I just pull out the scissors and cut away!!!

CN: How have family and friends reacted to the new you? How have you responded to them?
Surprisingly, my family has been very supportive. My husband doesn’t have a preference as long as I’m happy. My 13 year old daughter has been supportive and envious. She started transitioning at the same time I did but gave up after 4 months. Now she is starting over and mad that she didn’t hang in there when she sees my twist-outs. Co-workers (mostly Caucasian) are mesmerized; not quite sure how to react. My friends are supportive and encourage me every step of the way!

CN: What is your transition routine?
At first, my routine was using Diva Smooth (basically a DC) and flat-ironing my hair once a week after co-washing with Wen and doing a DC every Sunday. I would then wrap my hair at night and wear it straight. Now I co-wash with Wen on Saturdays and deep condition with Olive Oil deep conditioner under a heat cap for 15-20 minutes. I use Infusium leave-in con and style. I use Cantu Shea Butter on the ends. I have also just done Henna and am loving it!



CN: What is your staple hair style during the transition?
Until recently, it was flat-ironing. Now I wear a twist-out or twist-n-curl using Aveda Defining Whip Cream or Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue.

CN: How do you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
Even though I was using some heat with the Diva Smooth, the process had my hair healthier than it had been in a long time with the relaxer. Everyone comment on how healthy my hair was. I love the Rosemary and Tea Tree shampoos that came with the kit and the virgin coconut oil. I use herbal oil by Oasis for moisture and a little shine.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
My girlfriend laughs at me because 10 years ago when she told me she was going to stop relaxing, I laughed at her and told her, “You go ahead. I’ll never do that.” Uh! I learned never to say never.

I had been doing my relaxer myself for some years and had over processed. I started to see holes in my temple area. No matter what I did, the spots would not grow back; even when I regularly went to a professional.

Over the past few years I have been trying to become more health-conscious. In doing so, I realized how damaging relaxers are. My daughter really gave me the final incentive when she started researching relaxers and how damaging it is for us. When she decided, I admired her and forged ahead as well. It has been the best decision I’ve made about my hair in years. I am once again become confident with my hair (I was probably most comfortable when it was all cut off). Now, I love the puzzled looks as I rock my twist-n-curl!!!

I, like so many sisters, had the fear of being in the corporate world and conforming our natural selves to the ‘system’. Now, I am embracing my hair’s beauty and the new freedom of doing so!

I'm a 21 year old college student majoring in journalism in the beautiful southern state of North Carolina. So far I have been natural for about 7 months. I decided to go back to my natural roots due to my crazy and uncontrollable hair breakage. I remember I would get a relaxer just about every single month and was becoming addicted to having straight, beautiful hair (I thought straight was the only beautiful then). With my hair shedding and becoming too wild for me to handle, I knew I had to make a change.