CurlBox Natural

Hello there Saints! CurlBox. For $20 (plus $5 shipping) a month you would recieve a pakage with samples and/or full sized products for hair care to try. I learned about monthly hair care subscriptions through various blogs and social media on the web. I am not a full blown product junkie. Lets just say I'm a "watered down" product junkie (Teehee). So, I like to try various hair products here and there. And if you are like me, who is fruggle when it come to spending funds, you are always on the lookout for getting the most bang for your bucks.

COWashing

Hello Saints! I have been on my natural hair journey for 3 months and have been COWashing (conditioner only washing) my hair 1-2x weekly in place of shampooing weekly. Cowashing is a great alternative to daily or weekly shampooing to help increase moisture and condition the hair in between washes. 

TRANSITION HAS ENDED!!!!

Newly Natural Flat Twist Out

 Hello Saints! Yes, after 10.5 months I have officially ended my transition to natural last night August 17, 2013! After cowashing my hair, my husband came in the bathroom and I told him how I was done with these straggly straight ends. As I have blogged before, my plan was to transition until January 2014 however all that is no more. I am beyond excited about being completely natural. It almost feels strange to say that I am natural. WOW! I have never EVER in my adult life have had my hair in it's all natural texture. This is history in the making. When I was in elementary I was pressed out. Then eventually my whole family got Jheri Curls. Yes, including my dad and brothers! LOL Then in high school I started relaxing and have been relaxed up until last year when began I texlaxing. I texlaxed twice and now here I am today all natural. This will be truly a great and adventurous natural journey. :o)

Operation: Length Retention

Sensationnel Up-Do

Hello Saints! Now that I am confident in caring for my transitioning hair, I have now began focusing on ways to retain my length. I had mentioned before in a previous post about Operation: Length Retention, so in this post I will share with you what I plan on doing through out my transition to help retain length and commitments I am making to see it happen.

What is Operation: Length Retention?

It is methods, styles and products I am using and/or doing to help minimize breakage in order to retain length. Our hair is always growing however if we are not protecting our strands from breaking, we will not see the growth that is happening. I do not believe there is anything that can make the hair grow, however I do believe there are products and supplements that can help strength our hair and keep our scalp healthy for growth.

The BEST Flat Twist Out EVER!

Hello Saints! Last month I ordered for the first time the Ouidad $5 sample pack which included two gels, a leave-in, shampoo and conditioner. I got an additional free sample of my choice plus free shipping with this offer. At the time of this special, Ouidad was also offering a 5 day Deal of the Day. Each day they had a special package offer or free products with a purchase. On day 4 of the special, with ANY purchase you would receive their Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner 6oz and Sun Shield Sun & Sport Leave-In Spray 8.5oz for FREE. Those two products together is $37. Talk about savings!! So needless I took advantage on this day and ordered my daughter and I the $5 sample pack and received an additional sample and the 2 full size leave-ins for free and free shipping too! I could not pass this deal up! :o)

Transitioning to Natural: 8 Months Post

Hello Saints! Today is my 8th month in my journey to natural.  My hair's current length is shoulder length and all is well. I'm still on my regular standard hair care regimen with trying various products here and there.

Daily

Every day I moisturize with S-Curl No Drip and seal with 100% sweet almond oil.  Before bed I will pull my hair back into a loose bun or do flat 2-strand twists then cover with my satin scarf or bonnet. 

Extra Virgin Coconut How To's

Hello Saints! How I love me some pure extra virgin coconut oil. I started using it when I started my hair care journey in 2011. It is such a versatile oil. It is one of the ingredients I use in my oil mix I use for my face and body. I have used coconut oil as an overnite treatment before my wash day. It can be used for cooking but I have yet to cook with it though. Whatever way I use it, I always purchase extra virgin coconut oil. There's several brands to choose from but my personal choice has been Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. 

Say A Little Prayer

I do apologize for my abscents. As I  had mentioned in my last post my Summer had been quite full. Well now the kids are all back in school. We're on week 2 of school. We have Labor Day coming up this weekend. I'm looking forward to some chilln' and grilln'!

Say A Little Prayer

Dear Father God, thank you so much for bringing us safely and soundly through the month of May. Dear Lord, as we go into the month of June, please continue to order our steps and use us according to your will you have for each of our lives. We are willing vessels to be used by you Lord. Please forgive us of our sins. Please forgive us if we have said, done or thought anything that was not pleasing unto to you, Lord. Renew a right spirit within in us Lord! Please renew our hearts and minds. Let everything we do this day and every day be pleasing unto you Lord. We thank you for your Son Jesus Christ for giving His life on the cross so we too can be with you and the Son in the Kingdom. We thank you Lord for all you have done, been doing, going to do and have planned a head for each of our lives. Have your way in our lives. Please send your ministering angels of love, peace, joy and happiness into our presence. No weapon formed against us shall prosper! We bind the enemy in Jesus' might name. We thank you Lord. We love you Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I pray all is well with you all. As always, stay near the cross. You never know who you might meet there. Be blessed! :o)

New Hair Cut!

Hello Saints! Yes I took the plung and cut my hair. It is now ear length. It was just grazing my shoulders when I cut it this pass Thursday. Although it's supper cute, it is really taking some getting use to for me. Having short, 3 months post relaxed, 4a/b-ish type hair is really high matenance for me. None the less I keep having to tell myself it will grow back which it will. It will grow back now nice and even too. I pray I will NEVER have to cut my hair to this length again. (tearing up) It was not a set back by any means but a rather huge step forward is the ultimate care for my hair.

Day 21: 21 Day Hair Fast

Hello Saints! Well I did! I made it through a complete 21 days of zero hair heat styling appliances and styling gels or products. That's the first time I ever did some thing like this. I loved every bit of it. I feel my hair has gotten stronger. My newgrowth wasn't so difficult to amanage giving that I'm three (3) months post texlax. The hair fast gave my hair a nice break from all heat, the additives and various ingredients that are not always beneficial to our hair. You know how they can cause build up or strip the hair. I'm thankful I now have incorporated more hair products with natural ingredients so now I do not have too many concerns about the products that I put in my hair. Well now on to the next!

Day 14: 21 Day Hair Fast

Hello Saints! I pray all is well with everyone this day. I meant to make a post to wish all the mother's a happy Mother's Day but I was too busy taking advantage of this one of kind holiday just for us mothers.

Well, it has been 14 consecutive days since I have not used shampoo, hot tools and styling products. I have to say that I actually do not miss them. It did cross my mind to use gel to lay down my baby hair in the front then I remembered I am on a hair fast. That was about it and I was not bothered by it in the least. I'm going strong though! I have done the GHE (green house effect) every day faithfully. I did a dusting of my ends on Tuesday of last week. My ends are a true mess. I fried them prior to starting my hair fast because I neglected to check the temperature on my flat iron. It is all good though because I have decided to cut my hair.

Say A Little Prayer

Hello Saints. I pray all is well with everyone this day. Now let us pray...

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us safely and soundly to the month of May without danger nor harm. Lord please continue to bless us with your saving grace as we go throughout this month. Order our steps this day and every day dear Lord. Shower us with your blessings. Annoint us with your love. Dear Lord, forgive us of our sins this day. Please forgive us if we have said, done or thought anything that was not pleasing unto you. Let all things that we do be pleasing unto you. Renew a right spirit winthin each of us this day Lord. Renew our heart. Renew our mind please Lord. No weapon formed against us shall prosper in the mighty name of Jesus! We thank you Father God for our Savior Jesus Christ for sacrificing himself so that we too can be with You and the Son in the Kingdom of heaven. Thank you Jesus for having each of us on your heart on that rugget cross. We bind every hendering sprit. We rebuke the devower. Have your way this day and every day in our lives. We thank you Lord. We love you and bless your holy name for you are worthy to be praised. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!

As always, stay near the cross. You never know who you may meet there. Be blessed Saints! :o)

 

Day 7: 21 Day Hair Fast

Hello Saints! Well it has been 1 week since I started my hair fast. I have faithfully not used any hair appliances nor styling products. It has just been various oils, water, my aloe vera mix (which has all pure/natural ingredients) and shea butter. I have not used shampoo of any kind. I have either rinsed my hair with water only or used my organic conditioner by Alba. I did the GHE (green house effect) every day from serval hours to overnite. All is going well and my hair is feeling tremendously moist and strong. I am not having any issue with shedding that concerns me nor breakage. I have 2 weeks to go! I will be doing a heavy protein treatment using Aphogee 2 Step once I complete my hair fast a few days before putting my relaxer in (I actually texlax though). Over the weekend I co-washed and wore my drawstring ponytail when I was out and about.

Day 3: 21 Day Hair Fast

Hello Saints! I'm at day 3 of my hair fast and I'm feeling pretty good. I know it has only been three days but I have been tempted to do a little something to my hair but I'm determined to make it through. Prayer is truly helping me. Although, to some my exemptions I have set for my hair fast is easy breezy to them. Although, I do not use heat on my hair daily and sometimes not even weekly but I have that option to do so if I please (with moderation of course *smile*). Now setting a hair fast and not use ANY hair tools?? Not even to do a cool air dry?? Yes I do need Jesus to give me strength (LOL). I have confidence in myself that I will make it through 21 full days of mainly water, oils and a plastic cap for my hair routine!

21 Day Hair Fast

Yes Saints for 21 days I will be on a hair fast. I know you may be thinking 'What's a hair fast?'. For the next few weeks I vow not to use any hair appliances (ie blow drier, flat iron, ect.) or styling products (ie gel, foam wrap, ect.). I will not even use the cool setting on the blow drier during the 21 days. Just complete air dry. The only thing that will be going on my hair is 100% all natural products, butters and oils. I will keep my hair in the green house effect *(GHE) also for the majority of the days and through the nights. I will let my hair air out throughout the day so it will not get a sour smell from the GHE. On days that I excercise I will rinse my hair with water only or with my all natural conditioner. When I have to go some place I will wear either my half wig or drawstring ponytail. No shampoo will be needed during this hair fast since I will not have any concerns of product build up. I will end my hair fast a day or so after I'm planning to relax my hair.

Say A Little Prayer

This is the day that the Lord has made! I will rejoice for He has truly made me glad!! Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for keeping each of us in your safe keeping as you have brought us from the month of March into April without danger nor harm. Lord, as we go into this new month, we ask that you will continue to be with us. Please continue to keep us in your safe keeping. Order our steps and please let all that we do continue to be pleasing unto you. We thank you Lord for your love and grace. Thank you for granting us traveling mercy as we go to and from our destinations. Use us Lord according to the will you have for us in your life. Please bless our family and loved ones both near and far. Please let your light shine within us for all to see and

Say A Little Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for watching over us and bringing us safely to see a brand new month. We thank you for all you continue to do for each of us each and every day. We know none of these days have been promised to us but you brought us here anyway. Thank you for watching over my family. Thank you for pouring out a blessing that we do not not have room enough to receive it. You are so worthy to be praised dear Lord this day and every day. Thank you for being the head of my life and my family. Thank you most of all for you being YOU. Thank you for loving me even when I do not feel worthy. Thank you for saving grace. We love you Lord. We magnify your name! Father God as we go forward into the month of March, please continue to order our steps and keep us in your safe keeping at all times. Please bless us with traveling mercy as we go to and from our destinations. Have your way in our lifes Lord. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen!

Say A Little Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for keeping us through yet another month, safely and soundly. Dear Lord as we go through the month of February, please continue to keep us in your saving grace. Please bless us with traveling mercy as we go to and from our destinations Lord. Forgive us of our sins. Forgive us dear Lord if we have thought, said or walked in a way that was not please unto you. Please let everything we do be pleasing unto you dear Lord. Let us open our hearts and mind to look to you dear Lord for guidence and understanding over our situations. Renew a right spirit within us Lord. Let our talk be Your talk. Let our walk be Your walk. Renew a right spirit within us. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Are People Just Tolerating the Lord?

Hello Saints! I post that question based on what my pastor shared with us at our bible study last night. He had a dream that he was in his home having a get together with many friends and family. He served food to everyone, thereafter he said one of the guests told him that they did not like him. They pretty much just tolerated him to get what they wanted out of him. So, he proceeded in his dream asking all the guests if they felt that way and they all agreed. Our pastor from there shared that this is how some Christians does the Lord and honestly I feel the same way. There are those of us that love the Lord with all our heart and soul. Then there's others that seek Him only when they need something. If some christians felt some other being could supply their needs like the Lord, I would think they would not call on Him at all. It's unfortunate but it's true. God's chosen men and women pastors and leaders of the church are sometimes treated the same way. They are treated at times by members as if they do not have feelings or that they owe them something. The church will support a member on many occasions but the one time the church says no, then the member may call it church hurt. Forgetting about all the other times that the church was there to support them including the pastor. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying all christians and members of the body are doing this. I say this because I hear and see it more and more often these day. Did you know the church is one of the most sued organizations today?