I Love My Braids...

15 day old braids...taken this past Monday [12.19.11]

I think I'll definitely get them again :)

My Braids...A Closer Look.

Just giving you guys a better look at my braids...These pictures are not perfect but I think they'll do. I took these pictures today which means my braids are 10 days old.

Excuse the background...
My braids are pretty much "Butt length" lol

My straight ends

The size of my braids and the partings...they are medium/large. These are 10 day old braids.
Another view

Length from the front...
(I'm wearing sunglasses because I have a cold and I look very tired)

Side view

My Winter Protective Style: Box Braids!!

Oh gosh...I haven't had braids for 3 years! I stopped getting them in the first place because my hair started growing past my "braid length limit". Back then, my braid length limit was armpit length. But as soon as my real hair grew to armpit length, I felt like I graduated from braids and had to find new protective styles to wear. I dreaded the idea of mid back/waist length braids for some reason, so I decided to just never get braids again until......the box braids trend started for 2011!

I love Solange for bringing the trend back! It seems like a lot of women wanted to get box braids for so long but they were afraid to because they probably thought box braids were "played out" or something. But as soon as Solange bought the trend out, everybody came out of the wood works getting braids lol...I'm guilty of this too...LOL. One of the first reasons why I got these braids was because they're long! I used to be afraid of waist length braids because I thought they would be too much of a hassle. But after seeing a lot of pictures and videos of girls with long braids and the different styles you could do with them, I thought they were actually kind of.....cool! My braids are 2 inches past my waist, almost hitting my upper thighs. So I know for sure my real hair is protected to the maximum level, which makes me happy :) Another reason for these braids is because of the endless styles I could do with them. I bought so many hair accessories, which I will blog about soon (I promise!). The style I want to do the most with my braids is a high bun! So chic!

I got my hair braided last Sunday (December 4th) in Harlem, NY. Unfortunately, my braiding lady went on vacation to her home in Africa, so she left me in her sister's hands. Long story short, I had 2 women braiding my hair, one on each side pulling in different directions! I started at 11AM and finished at 3PM...4 hours of pain!

The braids were TIGHT! I'm super tender-headed! I always flinched when somebody tried to touch my braids after I first got them done. Also, the weight of the braids made my neck stiff for 3-4 days...I felt like I had an invisible neck brace on. On top of that, I caught a cold...so yea my week was pretty bad. Tight & heavy braids, stiff neck, sore throat, runny nose, all at the same time...imagine that! I had to see my doctor for my cold and for my stiff neck...he prescribed me some medicine and I feel about 90% better now (My nose is still runny). I'm not trying to scare you guys or anything, but I'm just not used to carrying all that weight on my head, plus the cold wasn't making it any easier. Around the 4th day of having the braids, they were loosening up pretty nicely..and now today is day 6 and I feel like my head is as light as a feather!

I used 8 packs of Zury's Kanekelon hair in the color 1b. My braids kind of have a old school flavor with a twist....old school because of the medium-large sized braids, and the twist is because of the long length (almost hitting my thighs). The ends of my braids are straight because I got them dipped in hot water. The hot water actually acts as a locking technique so that your braids wont unravel. I used to be scared that my braids would unravel, but they stay locked up to the point where the braid stops. I paid $80 for these braids and I think I just might get them again next year for the Spring...we'll see. I will be leaving these braids in for 2 months (December 4- February 4). Btw, I am currently almost 11 weeks post relaxer and don't plan on relaxing anytime soon.

I will have a separate post with more pictures of my braids. I wasn't able to take a lot because I'm still kind of recovering from my cold and not really in a picture taking mood...sorry ladies :/

Excuse my face lol..I still wasn't feeling well when this pic was taken.

Julie's Birthday!

Hey guys!

I'm about a week late, but I wanted to share my cousins birthday with you all from last weekend. She's also my stylist (just in case anyone forgot!).

We went out last week to a restaurant called Benihana to celebrate Julie's birthday. It's basically one of those Japanese type of restaurants where they cook the food right in front of you. It was pretty cool. That was my first time at a restaurant like that lol. Afterwards we pretty much hung out at our table at the restaurant and talked until it was closing time. Of course we took a lot of pics too!

Me and Julie (Yes that's her real hair)!

Waiting for the rest of the girls...

The table setting at Benihana was gorgeous!

Ladies night!

Fried shrimp and calamari...yum!

Fried rice that the chef shaped into a heart...aww!

The food was alright..

I had a lot of fun :)

My Make-Up So Far...

Just took a picture of my make-up. I didn't start wearing make-up until earlier this year (March). Before that, make-up was pretty much non-existent to me because my skin was just too oily. I was always afraid that if I put it on, the oils would seep right through and cause a disaster! But as soon as I discovered the powers of M.O.M (Milk of Magnesia), everything seemed to change overnight! Read my blog about my experience with M.O.M. Anyways, this is not much make-up but it's a start! I don't feel the need to have more than 1 or 2 eyeshadow palettes unless you're a make-up artist with clients. I mean the palette I have has 88 colors! There's a lot to choose from....but I guess since I'm a beginner I'll learn why women buy so many palettes...who knows? I might be one of them :/ When I wear make-up, my looks are pretty simple and neutral. I am also on a budget so hopefully I don't go overboard and buy things I don't need.

Taupe Nails

I decided to try a gorgeous taupe color on my nails to start off the Fall season. I went to Target and picked up Sally Hansens "Commander In Chic" nail polish for about $7 bucks. I bought it along with me to the nail salon as usual. I love how the color blends so well with my skin tone. The guy who did my nails complimented me for making a good color choice lol. Enjoy! Oh by the way...these pictures were taken on my brand new camera! There's something wrong with my old one :/

Wig Review: Freetress Creta Girl

Hey guys! I know I haven't blogged for a while. But I've been really busy and haven't had a chance to really update my blog on a regular basis. I remembered I promised you all to give a review on the Freetress Creta Girl wig so here goes!

I ordered this wig back in August as a protective style to wear as I awaited my end of September relaxer. I really needed something to cover up my hair since I was already 3 months post relaxer and had a lot of new growth. I don't really like messing with my hair when I have more than 1 inch of new growth.

When I received the wig from the mail, I opened up the package and felt it. The hair felt so smooth and soft! I couldn't believe it was made from synthetic fibers....amazing! And the curls are not tight cork screw curls, they're more like a loose 3b type of curl. I got her in a color 1B. When I tried it on, it fit on my head just right. The cap size is very comfortable and snug. If you have a big head and you're worried that this might not fit...think again because I have a huge head and this wig fits just perfect lol! It comes with a comb in the front, and a comb in the back. I left the front combs in for more stability, but cut out the back combs to prevent breakage at my nape.

When I tried her on, she was a little long reaching me a little past armpit length. It kinda gave me an 80's vibe because it was big, curly, and LONG. When I looked in the mirror, I kinda felt like I was auditioning for the "Soul Glo" commercial in the Coming To America movie back in the 80's lol. I wasn't feeling how long the hair was originally, so my stylist cut and shaped it up for me. She cut it to above my shoulders, and gave me side cut bangs. After she cut it, the wig looked perfect! It didn't look fake anymore and actually looked like it was growing out of my head! I fooled many people with this wig. A lot of people actually stopped me and asked if it was all my hair lol...so you know this wig is good!The hair is made of synthetic fibers, but its not shiny at all. It has a natural luster to it, and feels very soft....not 'plastic-y' like one would imagine synthetic hair to feel.

I did not have to leave any of my hair out because I positioned the wig in a way that hid the seams. Being 3 months post relaxer also helped because my roots camouflaged the seams too. By the way, this is not a half wig, it's actually a full cap wig.

Some people thought I spent over $100 on this wig, but truthfully...this wig was only about $17 bucks! With shipping and tax included, I spent about $24 bucks total! If that's not a deal, I don't know what is. I ordered her from Hairsisters.com but you can find her on any website that carries wigs...even Amazon.

She lasted for about a month and some change. I wore her every single day in that time frame. The wig gets bigger and more natural with time. After about 2 weeks, the nape of the wig started to tangle up a little bit. Even though I treated it like a new born baby, it still tangled up in the nape sometimes. After I cut out all the tangled bunches in the back, the wig still remained nice and full. At night, I kept her on my foam mannequin head to keep the curls neat and tangle-free.

Since I wore this wig every single day for a month, I definitely noticed the very few changes that started to occur when the wig was getting old. When I first got the wig and after my stylist cut it for me, I started wearing it immediately the next day. The curls were tangle free and when I shook my head, the hair had movement and bounce. But as the time went by, The curls started to stick together. So now whenever I shook my head, the wig would have a stiff shake. This only started happening towards the end, when it would be time for me to retire from the wig. Also, being that it's so cheap, I was very surprised that this wig doesn't shed that much. It also gets frizzier with time as well, which is a good thing because it made it look more natural.

Overall I give this wig 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is a great wig and I will definitely get it again in the future!

Creta girl wig after its been cut and worn for over a month!

Guess Who's Pregnant!

I'm watching the VMA's and Beyonce performed. After her performance she showed off her baby bump! Yay! Finally!! I'm so happy for you Bey!

Pretty in Purple.

I just love this shade of purple! Its so pretty! I got a lot of compliments with it. I went to my local beauty supply store to pick it up for $1 !! It's from a company called Quirius and the color is "News of the beloved". Even though it's a dollar, its highly pigmented and lasts for weeks! I can compare it to China Glaze and OPI, the only difference is the price...high quality for a low price! I will be stocking up on these from now on :)

Crackle My Flip Flops.

I'm loving China Glaze's Flip Flop Fantasy nail polish from the 2010 Summer collection...it's SO pretty! When I went to the nail salon, I didn't want to get just one color, so I asked the nail tech for a design on both my ring fingers. An idea popped into my head about the new Crackle polishes everybody is going crazy for. I decided to use a contrasting Crackle color on my ring finger to add a punch of flavor to my nails. The results turned out FAB!

[Click to enlarge]

End of Summer Hair!

I'm getting so tired of my current sew-in. I'm tired of waking up 30 minutes earlier every morning just to flat iron it. The tracks are getting loose too. Ugh I just miss my real hair. I wanna touch it, play with it, wash it, condition it! I was supposed to take my weave out in 2 weeks, but I seriously cant take it anymore. I mean its cute and all, but I need a change. I will be removing it this weekend! Yay! Last week, I placed an order for a wig I've been seeing a lot of reviews for on Youtube. I instantly fell in love at first sight with this wig. I ordered the unit last week on Hairsisters, and got her today! Summer is coming to an end and I feel like I needed something big and bold to finish off the season. I ordered a full cap wig called Creta Girl made by Freetress. I will definitely give a review on this wig very soon! Hopefully I'll be able to rock it at my family BBQ this weekend.

The hair is so soft and doesn't feel like synthetic hair. The curls are coily and loose. I was so tempted to see how it looked on me, that I tried it on even though I'm still wearing my sew-in LOL. It still looked good so I have a feeling when I take my sew-in out, this wig will look even better!

Natural Is Beautiful.

Who says type 4 hair isn't nice?
Natural hair is BEAUTIFUL! Just a few pics I liked...

My favorite Youtuber who suddenly disappeared :/ Chisellecouture come back!

Source

I know most of you are wondering why I'm writing a blog about natural hair...Well I have some news for you guys! But until my final decision is made, I will let you know when I remove my sew-in in a few weeks. :)

My Heart Is Breaking....RIP Amy Whinehouse.

Omg....

My favorite Soul/R&B singer Amy Winehouse has succumb to drug addiction. I was so hurt when I got the news because I wasn't expecting it. I thought she was taking a long break because one day she would return. Looks like that wont be happening *tear*...
I missed her when she was taking her long break, and now I'm gonna miss her forever because she wont be coming back. Gone too soon, at the young age of 27. RIP Amy! You will be missed!

Updates On Life

Hey guys!

Just coming on tonight to give you all some updates on whats been going on with me.

I recently just got a new job!! Yay! I start training in 3 weeks! I'll finally be working a full time job which means more money for me! More money = more shopping and trying new products! Also more money in the bank too, which is whats most important :) I'm really happy with the hours at my new job, even though I have to wake up extra early..I'm not really a morning person. But at least I get out early in the afternoon....7am to 3pm...woo!!

Moving on to my hair....

I currently have a bob cut sew-in right now. It's cute and all, but it's a lot of work. I have to wake up 30 minutes earlier every morning just to bump it with the flat iron. I cant roller set it because it would give me too much of a bump and my hair would look like a helmet :/ I only have a small portion of my hair left out on top, but I feel bad because I have to flat iron it everyday just to get it to look right and blend evenly with the weave. The hot weather and humidity has been making my leave-out look so puffy and frizzy, so I have to blend it in. I hate the idea of using heat everyday on my real hair..even if its only a small piece...arghh! But I had no idea it would be this much trouble to get ready every single morning. I feel like taking out my weave already and I've only had it in for 3 weeks. I'm gonna leave it in my hair for another 3 weeks. After removing it, I'm gonna be rocking a curly wig. I'm in love with Freetress Creta Girl and Outre Evony. Either way, I will be buying them both. I'll wear them each for 2 months at a time. I dont plan on relaxing anytime soon. I want to keep going as far as I can. Who knows, maybe it will lead to transitioning which I've been thinking about for years now. What do you think? I feel that now that I have a new job and things are changing, I should probably change my hair and see the real me. As of now, I dont plan on relaxing anytime soon.

Time For Some Summer Reading!

I always used to say that I'm gonna read more during the Summer. Even last Summer, I made a list of books I wanted to read. But for some reason, I never got around to it. Instead, I find myself spending hours in front of the computer or the TV. I always forget about books, get lazy and procrastinate about reading, especially during the hot sticky summer. I always envisioned myself laying on my bed with a book, while the AC is on full blast during the hot summer. But unfortunately, my room is the only room in the house with no AC, just a fan that isn't strong enough for this weather :( I think that's the reason why I always procrastinate.

But today, I don't know what got into me but I pushed myself out of my house, got into my car, and drove to the library for a book to read! I'm tired of the computer and TV. Time for some good reading. I didn't want to go overboard with how many books I got, because I know I'm not gonna read all of them. So I ended up getting only one book to start off my Summer Reading! Since I'm so into haircare, and understanding Black hair and all, I decided to get a book about the history of our hair. I've been wanting to read this book forever, but as I stated before, I was too lazy to do so :/

I picked up a copy of
Hair Story: Untangling The Roots Of Black Hair In America
Written by: Ayana D. Byrd & Lori L. Tharps
So far, this book is great! It's very evident that the authors clearly did their research on African American history and culture when writing this book. So much information I didn't even know about...and History is my favorite subject! I got this book a few hours ago from my local library and I'm already finished with the first chapter! I'm looking forward to the rest of the book! It basically talks about the role our hair plays starting from life before slavery till now. How we as Blacks, get treated and judged upon the texture and style of our hair. It's very interesting so far.

The next book on my list after I'm through reading this one, will have to be author Sapphire's new book which came out today! It's called "The Kid", and is a sequel to her other popular book "Push". It's supposed to be about how the son of Precious lives his life after she dies.

Summer Hair Trend: Top Knot Bun

I stopped doing boring librarian buns since last year! I admit they helped out in my journey a lot by preserving my ends. But they were just so boring and unattractive, so I stopped doing them. About a month ago, I needed a cute protective style to put my hair in while I waited to get my summer sew-in. Wigs were out of the question because I really didn't feel like buying a wig at the time. I wanted to wear my real hair. One day I was browsing the Forever21 website and noticed how a lot of the models had their hair up in cute high buns. I started to get a little interested. Then of course, I went on Youtube and researched. I found a lot of videos of girls rocking the "Top Knot" bun. It's such a cute, classy style, and also chic! I decided to give it a try. I washed my hair and air dried. I wanted my hair to have a lot of volume so that my bun will be bigger. Since my hair is thick, I actually had to put it into 2 ponytails and connect them together to form one ponytail. I made sure the ponytail sat directly on the top of my head. I took the hair hanging out of the ponytail and wrapped it around. Then I secured it with bobby pins and voila! I had a cute high bun. Pics below!

Models rocking the Top Knot bun @Forever21.com

My Top Knot *No hair added* :)

Give it a try! I got a lot of compliments with this style. It's cute, fun, and a quick fix if you're in a hurry to go somewhere and you want to look nice. If your hair is shorter and/or thin, you can always use some weave that matches the real texture and color of your hair and wrap it around your ponytail and pin it down with bobby pins. Hope you like it!

Summer Braids

2011 seems to be the year that braids are making a comeback! Not just any braids, but Janet Jackson "Poetic Justice" inspired braids, or Patra braids. The braids have to be long waist length to follow the trend. I did a post about this trend earlier this year. Lately, Solange Knowles has been rocking these braids a lot and I believe she bought the style back. These braids are very Bohemian chic and are a perfect style to wear this summer. My sister took down her weave not too long ago and didn't know what to do with her hair next. I suggested she did her hair in long box braids. She loved the fact that these style of braids are making a comeback and quickly decided to let me braid her hair. I didn't braid her hair in the traditional fat bulky big parting old school braids. I added a modern twist to it by making the braids and parting smaller. I also burned the ends to help preserve the style since she said she plans to leave them in for 4 months. Pics below!

My sisters hair before I started the long braiding process

A couple hours later
ALL DONE! Took forever but I'm glad the outcome came out good! Waist length, medium sized braids. I used 8 1/2 packs of Zury Kanekelon fiber hair.
I did a side parting for her.
She wanted the ends burned since she plans to leave them in for 4 months.
Trying to show you the size of the parting and the braids. They're medium sized.
Side View
Do you want to change your look this summer? Give these a try!