Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care

Hola Chicas,

I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods, but it's chilly here in NC! With the humidity and dew point dropping, I've been considering experimenting with my Curlformers again.

Here are some pics from last winter's Curlformer adventures:

In the past, I did one set a week (Sundays of course, and air-dry over night), and wore it primarily in protective styles. Curlformer sets make for easy and beautiful updos-- excellent for growing out your curls! The immediate result is similar to an old school press and curl--not really a good look if you like big, wild hair. As the days wear on, it gets bigger and poofier, especially if the humidity from the shower gets to it.

Here's the instructional video I watched last year:



Although her instructions are very straightforward, it'll take you a minute to adjust to 'the motion'. I remember becoming incredibly frustrated the first go round...it took me like an hour and a half to finish! After that, it was easy peasy :) They're expensive, but much easier to apply than rollers in my opinion.

I'll probably dust them off this weekend after doing a much needed henna treatment (I'm going on 1.5 months...tripping).

Share your Curlformer success or horror stories below!

Later Gators,
Nik

It's that time again curlies! The beautiful Wes of Honeybrownsugar is back on the ones and twos! Check out her Worst Hair Moment EVER...then head over to her site to read about mine!


During my college years, I did soooo much to my poor strands- from relaxing to bleaching- you name it. It's still amazing that my hair is still in tact and on my head! My worst moment ever was probably when I attempted to "highlight" my OWN hair. I had purchased the African Pride highlight kit (it had just came out) from Walmart. I put on the cap (with the pinholes in it) and had my roommate pull the hair through the cap (which hurt like HELL). Afterwards, I applied the bleach mixture to the hair that had been pulled through. After letting it penetrate for probably 30-45 minutes, we ran upstairs to rinse it out in our dorm's laundry room sink!
Thank God I still had all of my hair but my texture had changed drastically. It was stiff, dry and felt like hay (and NO, I didn't deep condition afterwards :-O , I think I blow dried and flat ironed :-O ). This was also during a period in my life when I was using Optimum's Super Strength relaxer...
I don't know what was wrong with me back then... *smh*

What has been your worst hair moment in history?

Hola Chicas,

In light of the recent protein article from the wonderful 'Curl Whisperer', I thought I'd do a giveaway! The only protein based conditioner I can use is Aubrey's GPB. It's a great mild protein treatment, that provides a bit of slip, strength, and au naturale ingredients! It's a protein conditioner that also manages to moisturize my situation :)


Product Description: Feed your hair a healthy, balanced diet with our #1-selling conditioner. Nutrient-rich, protein-based GPB rehydrates and reenergizes your hair, strengthens hair fiber and repairs damage from salon treatments to restore softness, manageability and shine. Our most popular product ever.

FEATURES:

BENEFITS:

Glycoprotein & Lactalbumin (milk protein)	Smooth hair fiber; strengthen & mend damaged areas
Organic Aloe	Replenishes moisture
Amino Acid Complex & Horsetail Extract	Balance & fortify hair & scalp

Ingredients: Coconut Fatty Acid Cream Base, Organic Aloe Vera, Wheat Germ Oil, Lactalbumin, Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Sage Oil, Horsetail Extract, Coltsfoot Extract, Nettle Extract, Amino Acid Complex (Cysteine, Methionine), Glycoprotein (from oyster shells), Balsam Oil, Aubrey's Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E).

________________________________________________________

Enter the contest by submitting a CurlyNikki Spotlight to nikki@curlynikki.com. We all have a story to tell! Submit yours and you never know who'll you inspire or encourage :D

Everyone that participates between now and September 30, 2009 will go into a drawing to win the bottle of Aubrey GPB! Good luck chicas :D


*No purchase necessary. In accepting the prize, the winner acknowledges that CurlyNikki.com may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize(s). This contest is subject to all federal, provincial and municipal laws. Contest open to Continental U.S. and Canadian residents only. One entry per person. Claiming of prizes requires an email response to CurlyNikki from the winning sender email address within 15 days of being notified of winning. Failure to respond shall mean that the winner forfeits the prize.

Meet MsZaree...a long term transitioner who discovered her natural hair while on a journey to recovery.


CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
M: I guess I'm considered a long term transitioner because I did it for just under13 months. The first half just kind of happened. I was in a terrible car accident in June 2008 and couldn't walk or even put my foot on the ground for 5 months. My husband was great but he was not willing to carry me around a beauty shop. So my hair was left without it's usual every 2 weeks maintenance and every 6 weeks touch-up. After the first 5 months I figured I might as well keep going and get a little more length. My goal was a year and I did it.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
M: I did it on May 24, 2009. My last relaxer was May 1, 2008. I was shocked at how I looked at first. I felt I looked like a boy and I was a little bit scared. Even with all those negative thoughts in my head I never once regretted what I had done

CN: What was your transition routine?
M: When I was still bed ridden I had friends come and corn row my hair a few times. Once I was able to do my own hair I started wearing braid outs which was my staple style all the way to end. The early ones were rough, but I got pretty good at the end. I co-washed twice a week with Trader Joe's Nourish Conditioner. I deep treated with Lustrasilk Cholesterol + Shea Butter & Mango Conditioner at least twice a month. I used either Giovanni Direct Leave In or the Cantu Shea Butter Leave In. I put about 16 braids in my hair and used Shea Butter along the way to seal and put a roller on the end for a curl. It took about an hour at my quickest to braid, but on average 1 1/2 hours.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
M: I had been going back and forth on doing it for years. But honestly was scared about how society would accept me. I didn't know what my real texture looked like, since I've been getting my hair relaxed consistently since I was 7, but I knew it was truly what was considered "bad hair" because even with a touch-up every 6 weeks my hair always was super thick. It was one thing to have natural "good hair" and another to have "bad hair".....or so I thought. After my accident made me literally sit down and take a break from my hair routine, I had a chance to think about why I felt tied to it in the first place. I realized that if there was ever a time to reconsider how I looked at myself the time was then, when I had nothing but time to think. I found so many resources online and so many beautiful inspiring pictures of natural, kinky hair that I decided the time was now. And if I truly didn't like it....well it's only hair, just do something different. Luckily for me I love it and it has helped reveal a strength and confidence I didn't know I had. It will always be one of the positives I take away from my car accident.


-First is me in April with my braid out.
-Second is the day after the BC
-Third is one of my better twist outs
-Fourth is a close up of a wash and go

Hola Chicas!

In the quest to develop the ultimate natural hair care routine (designed for growth, strength, and overall health), many of us pick up habits along the way that people outside of our group would consider weird, and even freaky!

Here's my list of strange habits:

1. I collect my shed hair in the shower as I detangle--and stick the strands to the wall no less! The conditioner makes the strands easier to plaster up there :) This habit developed in order to keep my curly q's from going down the drain and creating a massive clog. Makes total sense right? But if a friend happened upon one of my beautiful hair wads prior to clean up, they'd be utterly disgusted, lol.
2. While in meetings and other boring situations, my short attention span drives me to subconsciously begin searching my curls for shed hairs. I finger through the curls and look for the odd strand out--usually it's a shed hair turned upside down. I pull it out and let it fall to the floor. Gross, I know. It gets better--If I'm at the house, I'll grab the shed hair at both ends and pull it until it pops, to assess strength (loud pop=good elasticity, weak pop= I have work to do)!
   
3. I used to carry hair shears in my purse for the quick Fairy Knot or split end removal that couldn't wait for home.
   
4. I MUST stop in the hair department of every store I enter...no matter if it's Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger, or even the Dollar Store. I HAVE to, even if I'm short on time, and have no extra money. Oh, and whenever I spot a new Beauty Supply, I usually run in and check out their inventory as well. Funny, considering I rarely buy anything anyway, lol.
   

So, I've dished my embarrassing hair habits...don't judge me :)
Tell us yours!

Later Gators,
Nik

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
T: I was a short term transitioner. I really did not have the patience for longer than 4 months, LOL. Plus, I had no idea how to style my hair during my transition.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
T: I BC’d on April 25, 2008. I was not scared at all, but excited! I needed a change during that time in my life, and decided that my hair was going to be it. I had sort of a mixed reaction to my hair after it was cut. I liked it. It felt lighter. But I wanted it to be curly, and it was like a cloud with a few coils here and there that you could only see when you parted the hair. But I had no regrets. I told myself that whatever texture it turned out to be, I was going to love it. And I did! I thought it was kind of chic.

CN: What was your transition routine?
T: I started letting my hair air-dry after washing it to prepare myself for no heat. I washed with with commercial shampoos and conditioners during this time, as I was still learning about product ingredients. I deep conditioned every two weeks, and washed every week.

CN: What was your staple hair style during the transition?
T: My transition was very short-lived as I didn’t know what to do with my hair! When I got my last relaxer, I had the stylist cut my hair to a jaw line-length bob with fringed bangs to prepare myself for short hair. Everybody loved that! But it was for a purpose. As it grew out, I couldn’t put it in any buns or ponytails because it was still so short. So when the new growth started to clearly show, I wore wigs for about 2 months. Then I got Kinky-twists for the other 2 months.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
T: Before I moved to my current location, I had a stylist I loved. I probably would have never even considered going natural. But once I got to TN, I bounced around from stylist to stylist. I was paying higher prices for living in a bigger city, and I was spending way too much time in salons for simple styles. One day I did the math (I’m an Accountant, so that kind of stuff is in my nature.) I could not believe how much time and money I was throwing at my hair. I was really agonizing over it. There were significant things I was trying to do with my life, and trying to maintain straight hair just seemed so unimportant. I would go to church and see half the people there with natural hair, and I was intrigued about my own natural texture. I asked myself could I do that. Yes I could! And I was going to. And I did. I have not regretted one single day of it.

1st pic- 1 month post bc
2nd pic- 5 months post bc- coil-out with blended beauty
3rd pic- Sept 13, 2009- braid-out with CD HHB, almost 1.5 yr natural

A comment was left in the Herbal Hair Rinse article about the use of soap nuts as a natural cleansing agent. The reader stated that women on LongHairCommunity are using it to cleanse and thicken, and you know when I read the latter, I had to do a bit of research ;)

What is a soap nut? ('cause I had no earthly idea): Soap Nuts are the fruit of the sapindus mukorossi tree. They grow in countries with warmer, tropical climates such as India and Nepal. They were the laundry cleaning agent of choice prior to the chemical ones we use today.

Where can you buy them?
http://www.organicsoapnuts.net/order.html
http://www.buysoapnuts.com/store.html#anchor_116

How do I use it?: The instructions found in the link below were the best I came across.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=95

Benefits of use:

• Body
• Shine
• Gentle, effective cleansing
• Did I mention, BODY!
  

So what do you think, is it worth a shot?

Later Gators,
Nik

Bianca, a CurlyNikki reader, requested that I pose the following questions to you gorgeous gals. Help her out:




Nikki,
I love your blog! Can you pose these questions to your readers/supporters to determine best practices for women with natural hair who color their hair regularly? I would like to color my hair but I am a little reluctant because in the past it was drying and damaging (although, I was using heat to style back then as well).

I am looking for direction regarding:

1. recommendations on hair coloring brands/products

2. hair care regimens for healthy colored hair

3. other do's/don'ts for coloring natural hair

Thanks in advance!


Okay all you rinsed, foiled, and baliaged divas, weigh in! Feel free to post a link to your
on- line album to showcase your dyed tresses.

Meet Ayanah...self proclaimed 4a diva with a routine designed and balanced for maximum length retention.



CN: How long have you been natural? Were you a long-term transitioner?
A: 5 years. I was a long term transitioner. I had BSL relaxed hair that I cut to my shoulders and gradually trimmed every month until all the relaxed ends were gone. I did a lot of pony tails and a few flat iron styles during my transition. At the time, I did not go natural to rock a cute fro-- I went natural so my straight hair would look fuller. As I grew my hair out, I began to appreciate the natural curl pattern and began to let the flatiron go.

A: Once or twice a week:

• Prepoo over night with Aussie Moist mixed with Honey and EVOO.
  
• Condition with Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship in 4 sections.
  
• Rinse with ACV and apply an oil mix (Castor Oil, Coconut Oil and Avocado Oil) to my scalp and Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship OR LustraSilk Shea Butter Cholestrol to my hair.
  
• Then, either I'll twist it into about 8 twists while in the shower for a twist out OR brush back into a ponytail and twist the ends.
  

Every Two Weeks:

• Protein treatment for an hour before I do the above. I mix Mane & Tail with One Egg and my oil mix
• Apply to my hair and let sit for about an hour. I try to apply my oil mix to my scalp every other day.

CN: What's the one thing you'd tell a newbie to help her on her journey?
A: Listen to your hair! Condition, Condition, Condition! Never forget to give your hair a break from constant styling. Sometimes it just needs to be left ALONE!

CN: What's your secret to length retention?
CN: What do you do to your hair at night to preserve your curls?
A: If I'm wearing a twist out for the week I sleep with my hair in a high ponytail i.e. a pineapple. Cover with a bonnet and go to bed :)




Submit your CurlyNikki Spotlight today!

After receiving Zhara's Hair Growth Tea recipe, I became very interested in the use of herbs as a final rinse. Back in January I posted an article called Natural Remedies for Natural Hair--the list below is a continuation (and application).

Catnip: Promotes healthy hair growth--many women on longhaircommunity swear by this stuff for long, strong hair.
Chamomile: Softens hair, soothes the scalp, lighten and conditions (people use it with honey to bring out natural highlights). Chamomile is also known to stimulate growth.
Horsetail: Helps brittle hair due to its high silica content.
Lavender: Stimulates hair growth
Nettle: conditions, improves texture, helps with dandruff, irritated scalp, and dry scalp
Parsley: enriches hair color and gives a nice luster
Plantain: great for dry, irritated scalp, dandruff, and seborrhea
Peppermint: stimulates the scalp
Rosemary: Acts as a tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives luster and body, stimulates growth, helps with dandruff, and brings out dark highlights in the hair.
Sage: Very effective in restoring color to graying hair, excellent for weak brittle hair
Saw Palmetto: good for thinning hair and hair loss
Thyme: good for oily hair and dandruff
Witch Hazel: cleanses hair

After you've decided which herb(s) will get the job done, follow the steps below:

1. Place the herb(s) in a pitcher (glass is ideal).
   
2. Pour boiling water over the herb(s), cover, and steep for 10-20 minutes.
3. Strain the mixture and allow the liquid to cool.
   
4. Pour over your head after your regular shampoo, condition, and detangling session. Do not rinse.

Buy your herbs in bulk from one of the following:

Bulk Herb Store
Mountain Rose Herbs
Herbco.com

I plan to experiment with catnip, rosemary, and nettle. I might even try adding a few of these to my next henna treatment...whenever that may be. What about you?!

My shower is full of products! It's absolutely nuts...

Right now I have two half empty bottles of Herbal Essence Totally Twisted (I don't know why I do that), a mostly empty family sized bottle of Herbal Essence Hello Hyrdation, a half empty bottle of Back 2 Basics Pom conditioner, a bottle of Generic Value The Detangler, an empty bottle of Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine, a half empty family sized bottle of DevaCare One, and a brown cap that doesn't seem to belong to any of capless bottles in the shower (I take off the caps to make it easier on myself).

Ridic. The funny part is that I use all of them...not all at once, I just grab whatever is close! If you notice, I didn't mention a shampoo. I haven't poo'ed (lol, that would be bad) in a month...or henna'ed for that matter. I need to get on my game!

So ladies, what's in your shower, and what do you recommend for slip, moisture, or styling?

Meet Toi...newly natural and learning to love the shrinkage that comes with the territory!


CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, why?
T: My last relaxer was June '08 and I transitioned for about 8 months with hopes of continuing longer but I couldn't take it any more lol!

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
T: I bc'ed February '09. My initial reaction was sort of surreal...I had finished taking out my braids and I just reached for the scissors and started cutting. I didn't really feel anything immediately until I went to bed and cried myself to sleep! Not to mention, some of my friends weren't feeling my decision at first. I immediately got more braids and I didn't fully rock my natural until the summer. I'm so happy with my decision of BC'ing now of course!

CN: What was your transition routine?
T: For the first few months I would flat-iron my hair bi-weekly. After that, I would mainly wear twist outs, buns and braids/weaves. I also liked to co-wash with Suave or Herbal Essence Hello Hydration and deep condition with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose.

CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
T: I made sure to deep condition weekly and treat my hair with gentle hands. I always applied conditioner or moisturizer (B&B Oil Moisturizer, Mango Butter) in sections to make sure that no part of my hair was missed. I used sulfate-free shampoos to alleviate the stripping of moisture from my strands. Coconut oil was also a major lifesaver for my hair.

CN: Why did you go natural?
T: I went natural because I had been contemplating it for so long and I just felt it was time to finally do it. I was so tired of getting relaxers which yielded a sore scalp or going to salons and dealing with the long tedious process. I love big hair and I did not like the lifeless look of my hair post relaxer. My hair is very kinky, coily, soft, and I absolutely love it (learning to love the shrinkage!). I feel so happy and pretty now, more than ever and I love to see the growing number of naturals on my campus...it's such a beautiful sight! CurlyNikki.com has been very influential in my healthy hair care journey and I make sure to tell all of my friends about it! Thanks so much, you are truly an inspiration!

1st photo: flat-iron 5 months into transition
2nd photo: twistout, my favorite transition style
3rd photo: my hair now!

Remember the ridiculously beautiful and wholly natural Zhara?! Well she's back to share a very special recipe with the CurlyNikki community.




Zhara's Hairsational Organic Herbal Hairgrowth Tea!!!!!!

Healthy nutrition and exercise are definitely the most important part of your natural hair care regime in my opinion.
What goes in the body is a good refection of what comes out; physically, mentally and Vanity!
Homemade organic herbal tea is like drinking a liquid vitamin in its most purest form beacuse it absorbs directly into the bloodstream.
This organic tea contains many special vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients to enhance healthy skin, hair and nails!
It has excellent Health & Beauty benefits like purifying the blood, boosting circulation, promoting healthy hair growth, glowing skin, strong lustrous nails and the list goes on! Some of the herbs are detoxifying, so It’s also a great way to gently cleanse the body on a regular basis!

Drink this Fresh Homemade Organic Wellness Tea as part of your daily health and hair care regimen....

Cheers!

My daughter, Katie—the love and pride of my heart—will be five years old in December. She inherited her mommy's curls but, unlike most children of her age, will tell you all about her "pretty curls" with little prompting. And she always notices others with curly hair. "Look, Mommy," she'll say when we are out shopping and pass a woman with curly locks. "That lady has pretty curls just like you and me."

I can't describe the joy I feel at being able to give her a positive experience about her hair. So many of us grew up feeling self-conscious about our curls: sometimes with mothers or other guardians who simply didn't understand how to deal with it, sometimes with pressure to conform to some standard of "acceptable" hair that felt wrong to us deep down inside, but we unable to understand why we felt that way.

The good news is that, as we educate ourselves about how to deal with our own curly hair, the more equipped we are to pass that education along to our children. The hardest thing to remember, though, is how quickly our children sense and pick up our attitudes if we haven’t quite accepted our curls ourselves.

I had a huge reality check myself when Katie was three years old. I've learned to love my curly hair, but that doesn't mean I don't still have bad hair days or days during a Florida August where I'd trade my left arm for an afternoon of straight, shiny, frizz-free locks. One day, in the thick of the summer heat and humidity, I was fussing and complaining about how I didn't want my curls anymore when this tiny voice suddenly piped up beside me.

"Me either, Mommy."

Talk about a major smack in the face. The first thought through my mind was: what was I, a supposed curly hair expert, teaching my daughter? How could I expect her to love her hair if I didn't lead by example and show her I loved my own?

It took a while after that for Katie to understand that our curls were special and Mommy really did love her hair. Today, I don't hide my bad hair days from her, but I am very careful to make the distinction between disliking my curls and disliking how they are falling on a particular day. And she gets it, thank goodness, but I shudder to think how easily I could have instilled a hatred towards her curls in her, no matter how innocently.

One of the best presents we can give our children in any aspect of life is honesty and knowledge. I think teaching our curly kids how to love their curls while educating them on the realities of their care is a good part of the game plan. And if you are the straight-haired parent of a curly child, it is doubly important you find resources to help you understand your child’s gorgeous and special hair.

Here are a few tips on how to help your curly child understand, love and care for their beautiful, unique gift:

1) Teach them that their hair is special. I tell my daughter having curly hair is a privilege and an honor, and that means it takes a little bit more care than other kinds of hair. It is never too early to start instilling pride of ownership in them: I’ve had children as young as four or five sit in my chair who were already uncomfortable with or disliked their curls.

2) Include your child in the care maintenance routine of their hair. Of course, a child of three or four isn’t going to be able to participate as a child of eight or nine can. But it is still important for you to include them in their own hygiene routine at the level where they can participate, and talk about or show them how to properly cleanse, condition and detangle their curly locks.

3) Respect their preferences. As your child gets older, she will start to express preferences for her hair style as a natural part of her growing identity. Do your best to respect her wishes so she feels her input into her appearance is important and valued.

4) Find a curl-sensitive stylist. All the pride in the world won’t combat the damage done by an insensitive stylist who exclaims, “Oh my God, look at this hair!” in disbelief. Before you take your curly kid to a new stylist, arrange a consultation with them prior to your actual appointment to determine their attitude towards and sensitivity to curly hair. It only takes one or two thoughtless remarks to cause years of self-consciousness.

I can promise that instilling pride and self-esteem into your beautiful curly child now will save them years of heartache down the road.


Check out the Curl Whisperer's site, HERE.
Submit your hair questions to the Curl Whisperer, by emailing nikki@curlynikki.com. Be sure to use 'Curl Whisperer' as the subject line!

The FAQ below was originally posted in March of this year. I thought I'd bring it out of hiding with Fall approaching--changing seasons always bring about new found motivation, right?!

Anyway, since posting this in March, and reading your comments in July, I've implemented a new workout routine and eating regimen. I'm not trying to lose weight, so I do moderate cardio 3 days a week (Wed., Fri., Sun. on the treadmill), and light toning (free weights and ball) nearly every day. This routine works out for my beauty (hair!) rituals too in that I do my hair on Sunday afternoons, and the set looks great through Wednesday, when I pull it up and start hitting the treadmill.

A sneak peak into my diet would reveal:

Bfast:

• Bob's Red Mill 5 Grain Rolled Whole Grain Oats (I love the texture of this oatmeal!) flavored with Organic Apple Butter
• Fruit (usually a banana, or kiwi...lately Pomegranate arils!)

or

• Almond Breeze (unsweetened)Almond milk with a bowl of high fiber cereal and fruit
  

Lunch:

• Chicken breast sandwich, or (boneless, skinless) chicken thigh salad, or cold cut sandwich, or chicken stuffed pita, or Healthy Choice soup, or leftovers from the night before
• Baked Lays or pretzels

Dinner:

• Lean meat prepared on the Foreman (salmon, chicken, beef, hell even pork, LOL, I love meat!
• Frozen veggies and brown rice

The above dinner only happens once or twice a week. I usually end up eating out at a Sushi or Indian spot. I also do frozen meals from time to time. My favorite at the moment--Ethnic Gourmet's Chicken Tikka Masala. If you're a connoisseur of Indian food, you must try this dish! I've been eyeing it for a while, and decided to buy it a few days ago. It smelled delicious while it cooked but all (bland) frozen meals do. EVERYTHING about it was perfect--the sauce, white meat chicken, and rice. There are no additives or artificial ingredients, and it is minimally processed. Yesterday, I went to my fav Indian restaurant and bought naan, and samosas to go with it!

Snacks:
I eat several of the following in between meals: fruit, pumpkin seeds, Craisins, Stretch Island Fruit (the best fruit snack at the store--no additives, sugar comes from real fruit!), organic jerky, Kashi bfast bars, dark chocolate squares, ginger snaps, yogurt, hummus and pita or fresh veggies. And on occasion, I'll have a half cup of cookies and cream ice cream!!

Drinks:
Lots of water, herbal teas, and green tea.

I do my best to stick to the above menu items. I fall off the wagon at least once a week and stop at Wendy's...sometimes Bojangles too...hey, it's a work in progress and definitely better than where I was last March!

Please list your favorite healthy meal ideas and exercise routines. We've gotta keep our bodies looking as tight as our hair! Your comment may inspire the next curly :)
________________________________________________________________


Nikki,

I've looked around your site pretty extensively but I haven't seen any articles discussing exercise and natural hair. I work 3 jobs, go to school, and hit the gym 5 days a week. I have to get in that gym visit whenever I can and of course it messes up any hair-do I may have been wearing or any hair-do that I may have been anticipating. Do you or any of your followers have information that might make this whole thing easier? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Mzbush
_______________________________________
I'm the last person you'd find at the gym. To be honest, I hate to sweat. I know that sounds crazy...and it is :-) But its very true! To combat my unwillingness to workout, I do my best to eat healthy (I'm doing really good with this), and walk when I can (I park my car far away from entrances to grocery stores and malls).

I impulsively bought a treadmill last year and used it for several months. I'd walk (not jog or run, lol) 3 miles, 5 days a week. To prevent sweating out a style, I'd wear my hair in a high bun, and let it loose on the weekends. This worked out well, and grew my hair out quite a bit! But of course, that got old, and now my treadmill sits folded up in the corner of my bedroom collecting dust. The 5 day bun routine proved convenient, and if I got too sweaty, I'd take the bun down, water rinse, and throw it back up there :)

I'm opening this question up to the comments of others. Help her out!

Meet Nellboogie--a diva on a mission for blond bangs, turns all natural!

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
N: I think I was a rather long-term transitioner as my motives for going natural this time around (I had previously done so in 2004/2005 but alas, that “Halle Berry” haircut began to “call” me so, I was once again a slave to the “lye”…LOL!) were not of the best intentions for the health of my hair. I simply wanted to have blond bangs. I knew that my hair would not be able to handle both bleaching and relaxer, so I chose to go natural instead. I bleached my hair about 2 months into an 8-month transition. I planned on being a really long-term transitioner (like 2 years) but the blond bangs fell out of my head like pine needles off an old Christmas tree. LOL! I knew then my BC would be sooner than previously anticipated.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
N: I BC’d April of 2009. I washed my hair and I was dreading the blow-drying and flat-ironing process, so I wore a hat that day. I got home and one, little curl was peeking out the back of my hat…that is when I decided that that day was as good as any to do a Big Chop. My hubby was out of town, so I cut a huge plug out of the top of my head and sat down and ate a sandwich for lunch. I figure that was the only way I would do it for sure. : D My reaction to my natural hair was shock and instant love. When I was natural a few years back, I never wore my curls. I went to the shop once a week to have my hair straightened. I thought that working in a professional environment would not allow such freedom of expression. A few years later and equipped with a lot more knowledge, thanks to sites like CN, I have a new found appreciation for the beautiful textures that grow from our heads!

CN: What was your transition routine?
N: Flat-ironing and micro-braids were my styles during transition. I used all of the natural “staples”…shea butter, evoo, honey, aloe, and a leave in conditioner without “cones” I mixed Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey with my shea butter for extra moisture and I love the way it smells.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
N: The breakage from the hair color was the catalyst for my choosing to go natural, but that little curl that day literally demanded to be seen and I finally decided to let my hair dictate what it was capable of. Some days are rough but the journey is awesome! My hair is different today than it was 5 months ago. I am truly proud to say that I am happy to be nappy, coily, curly, and wavy. I am even content with that patch at the top of my head that does absolutely nothing. As the saying goes, “Whatever it is, let it be”.

Pic #1--Naturally pressed and curled 2005
Pic # 2--The day I BC’d (April 2009)
Pic # 3--Wash and go-with coils (September 2009)

Aisha heard the call, and graciously shared her 4a/b love story. Check her out and show her some love!

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, why?

A: I was a little of both. Lol. My last relaxer was January '09. I BC'd in May, but wore micro braids until September. I initially wanted to transition for one year, but quickly became impatient with my hair and with my stylist. Several of my girlfriends had recently BC'd and I was ready to join the number!

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?

A: I BC'd in May '09. To be honest, I hated what I saw in the mirror after my hair was cut! I'd seen my friends come back from their BC's, with beautiful bouncy curls. That was not what I saw. I saw a head of short kinky hair that I had no clue how to take care of. I thought to myself, "What have I done?!" Now I love my hair. Thanks to curlynikki.com and others, I’ve learned how to take care of my natural hair.

CN: What was your transition routine?

A: I went to the salon every 2 weeks for a shampoo and deep condition, with Motions. After that, she would flat iron my hair. I had a short cut at the time, so I couldn’t wear rods or roller sets. Once I got braids, I would wear the braids for 6 weeks, removing them only to cleanse (DevaCurl No Poo Moisturizing cleanser) and deep condition (Jane Carter Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner) my hair before putting new braids in. I really made an effort to protect my hairline.

CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?

A: This is something that I tried to focus on. I tried transitioning in 2007, but my hair broke off so badly where the two textures met, that I felt forced to relax again, just so I wouldn’t lose all my hair. This time around I used Carol's Daughter's Healthy Hair Butter. While my hair was braided, I used an Olive Oil spray to make sure that my hair was still moisturized properly.

CN: Why did you go natural?

A: There were several reasons that I decided to go natural. Although, I have very thick, kinky hair, I've always had a super sensitive scalp. Relaxers always burned my scalp and I ALWAYS had scabs. I would have to use the ultra-sensitive relaxers, which my stylist charged more to use. I also noticed that I hated my hair right after relaxing it. It was always too straight. I didn’t enjoy it until I had a little fluff. The main reason that I decided to transition and stick with it was my daughter. I didn't want her growing up with a mother that wasn't happy just the way that God made her. One of the things that I want my baby girl to know, is that she never has to conform to anyone else’s standards of beauty. She's perfect just the way she is. How could I teach her that if I wasn't a living example?

My pics:

The first is my relaxed after I had it cut

The second is my hair in between braids in July '09

The third is my hair now.

Remember the gorgeous Moniero? Well, she responded to the 4a/b/c All Call with a quick and easy braidout tutorial! Check her out:


It's me again......my signature style has to be the braidout. I swear by it, and it helps stretch my hair tremendously. Here are my steps:

1st....Divide the hair into 4 sections.

2nd...Co-Wash with Hello Hydration.

3rd...Deep condition with Neutrogena Triple Moisture (Note: The conditioner already contains Olive Oil and Sweet Almond Oil, but I add extra of each.)

4th...Rinse the hair and then add JessiCurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment (loves this stuff).

5th...In each section I do about 3 or 4 braids (Note: In the front I always braid towards my face....it allows me to shape my braidout to fit my face).

6th...After my hair is completely dry, I apply Olive Oil to each braid.

I try to rebraid my hair daily, but when I am lazy 4 ponytails will do. I have attached some of my favorite braidout pictures. These are from the end of July and right after a henna treatment.

Hope this helps!


Want to see more of the fabulous Moniero? Check out her Fotki!



Don't forget to submit your type 4 spotlight! Styling how-to's are MORE than welcome :)

	Sale in CurlMart In honor of International Curly Day, NaturallyCurly.com is having a storewide sale in CurlMart, their online boutique. September 22 - September 25, everything in CurlMart will be 15% off when CurlyNikki.com readers type in the coupon code BLOGGER* *Collections, Wen, and Kinky-Curly excepted

Hola Chicas,

I'm looking for my 4a and 4b readers to submit their CurlyNikki Spotlight pieces! I have several divas requesting to see your gorgeous locks. Styling how-tos, transitioning stories, and idol spots are most certainly welcome!

For more info on hair typing, click here.

As always, send your submissions to nikki@curlynikki.com.


Later Gators,
Nik

Meet Venita...a child prodigy, and naturally curly beauty.


CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
V: I didn't really transition at all! I think I got my first relaxer at around age 12. My mom, having a straighter texture than myself, found this the easiest way to manage my hair. I didn't mind it so much and, honestly, I think straight hair can be 'pretty'. But I found myself pulling it back all the time. So, I wasn't cute with it! Funny: in high school, I would spend hours crimping my hair to get a big curly look. It wasn't until I looked back on old pics of myself that I realized I could achieve this look with my natural hair. I graduated college at 16 and, during my freshman year of college, wanting to be edgy and not really thinking about 'going natural', I cut my hair myself. I had about 2 or 3 inches of hair and I love the way it curled. I haven't relaxed since. That was 17 years ago.

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
V: I BC'd in 1992. I loved my natural hair, even though the front was much straighter than the back (and still is). I have since cut and regrew and loc'd and cut and regrew my hair several times over the years. I like taking my hair in new, different directions. I am currently growing my hair out from a short cut I rocked for much of 2007.

CN: What was your transition routine?
V: Since there was no transition, there was no routine. I did learn, once I cut off the relaxed hair, that I needed to condition my hair, daily. Otherwise, it was just a frizzy, matted mess. I actually used Care Free Curl Gold on my hair in those days. Over the years, I learned I don't have to condition daily, though I love the way my hair feels when I do. I have also learned that when I am in a condition daily mode, that I shouldn't condition the roots, it leaves my hair flat.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
V: The choice to go natural wasn't really a conscious one. I wanted to see what my hair looked like under the relaxer. Once I saw it, I loved it and I couldn't go back. I do get a professional blow out and flat iron a couple of times a year (no more than 3 times each year and never, ever in summer!) for variety but I feel sexier when my hair is big. Lately I have been, thanks to CurlyNikki and Autumn's videos on YouTube, experimenting with twists and roller sets. After all these years, I am still learning new things about my hair.

CN: What are your holy grail products?
V: I've recently discovered glycerin and LOVE it. lol. A little bit of that goes a long way. I use either Hello Hydration or the Herbal Essence conditioner for curls (can't remember the name). Coconut oil is the truth. I love the Garnier conditioning leave in cream. I've just learned about the importance of protein treatments and have started those. I still haven't found anything that gives me hold without drying my hair out, though. Even after all this time. I'd love some suggestions.

What addition did you make to your hair care routine that got you over the hump (be it length or health)?

Henna and my beloved Twist-n-Curl grew my hair to healthier new lengths. The weekly deep treatments and bunning probably didn't hurt either.

Your response may give the next curly an inspired idea!

Meet Kasey and Wilona...yes, this diva has named her fro!


CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
K: I was a long term accidental transitioner! I say accidental because I didn't plan to grow out my perm, but I moved to a new city and none of the hairstylist rollerset hair, everyone got "beveled!" One day, after being at the hair salon for 9 hours, I decided to get a sew in, which I wore for about 2 years, renewing it every 3 months. Four hundred dollars and tons of Indian hair later, my hairline began to break off and I decided to see what was hiding under all of that weave (my bf was just as curious, he had never seen my real hair!).

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
K: My BC was on 2/13/09 and it wasn't bad at all actually...I hadn't really seen my hair for more than a few minutes in 2 yrs and my first initial thought was...there is alot of hair on the floor...but that's what I get for not getting my ends trimmed in 2 yrs! I also thought my head felt very light,after all, I had been wearing 9 ounces of weave in my head on a continuous basis! My bf kept saying "you look so much better"-- did he think I was looking jank the whole time?! lolol!

CN: What was your staple style during the transition?
K: SEW INS!! I was alll about some weave! I would just get them re-done and then shampoo and condition my hair with whatever was under the sink...I think motions products....a dab of Dr. Miracles products......some garnier fructis products...Cantu no drip scalp oil........

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
K: As I previously stated, it was an accident and after my bc, I faithfully went to the salon every 2 weeks and got a shampoo, condition and flat iron. I thought since my hair was natural now that it wasn't as damaging! One day I stumbled across a woman on Youtube doing Bantu knots and I liked it, so I started doing them between salon visits (you know when your flat ironed hair gets limp and greasy ). I have given up on the salon completely now and am giving my stylist the cold shoulder because I got into co-washing and pre-pooing, and discovered the wonderfulness of coconut oil, olive oil, and other natural goodies. I'm still learning to love the Shea butter, but I just hate the smell :-( Bantu Knots are my signature style...I wear them every day and my fro even has a name..Wilona! I love Good Times! I love "my Wilona" she is big and fluffy and doesn't care if its humid or rainy! Ciao

1st pic.......Relaxed hair........Dec 06
2nd pic.....One of the sew ins! June 08
3rd pic......As soon as I took down my last sew in 2/12/09
4th pic......As soon as I got home from the BC 2/13/09
5th pic......Wilona...8/09