Natural Hair Topic: Henna

It's the fall, so it's time for protective styles for my natural hair. During the cold weather months, I do a LOT of wigs and scarves and underneath I usually put my hair in twist. My hair is growing and I'm almost at my one year big chop anniversary. 

I'm always looking for ways to elongate my curls and provide moisture to my hair. As a 4b hair type, those are the two things I struggle with the most. This weekend I did a henna treatment.  Henna can be used safely on ALL hair types and makes your hair stronger, provides a red tint to your locks, makes your hair shiny and it has NO chemicals.

I've tried it before thinking it would change my hair color dramatically, but I don't think I did it correctly. This time I used the information I got from two of my favorite natural hair care blogs, All Things O'Natural and Curly Nikki to help me with my henna journey.

What I used: I got this recipe from the Curly Nikki website:

1 100oz package of Henna from the Mehandi website 

2 cups of tea (Sleepytime tea which is a mixture of Chamomille and other teas)

Honey

2 caps of Apple Cider Vinegar

You mix the ingredients until you get a "chocolate pudding" type consistancy. I parted my hair into sections and applied throughout. Here is the worst part...I didn't use gloves so my hands are STILL dyed orange. I will stress to everyone...USE GLOVES!! AND PUT A TOWEL ON YOUR PILLOW WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP...I ruined a pillowcase!

I kept on my hair for 12 hrs (well a little bit more...because I had meetings and errands to run). I washed it our with Aussie Moist conditioner and then shampooed with Creme of Nature's Coconut Detangling Shampoo. I then deep conditioned my hair, rinsed and put it back in twist with Kinky Curly's Knot Today.

Henna in da hurr...LOL!

I will have to say, detaingling was a bitch, and that was with the Knot Today. Next month, I have to work on that somehow. My hair does feel softer and my grey hair (what few strains I have) are an auburn brown color, but still no dramatic change in color. I think it will take sometime to gradually pick up the color after a few treatments. I will do henna again, and will try to do it once a month for now on.

Just me..no makeup...henna soaking in.

Have any of my natural friends tried henna?

Janelle

Phat Like Me & Nite Nite Hair

I'm so happy! In December of last year, as I've said before, I was diagnosed with diabetes. My doctor filled my medicine cabinets with high blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds and diabetic meds. I was taking the same medicines as my grandmother. That's when I woke up, I have to start looking at my body and really start changing how I'm treating myself. Well, as of Monday, I've lost 18 pounds!!!  

It's been crazy hard. I do well for a week...fall off...get so busy I don't eat or just grab trifling food. It's a learning process, but I'm taking it day by day. People are starting to notice my weight loss and my clothes are getting loose; some I have to buy in a smaller size! I'm just so proud of myself. I'm going to stop gloating now and start my new nightly hair regimen.

I LOVE my natural hair. I didn't about a year or so ago, but I'm starting to really cherish my hair in all it's glory. Tonight, I'm dry twisting it. I started with a wash-n-go, but I'm too lazy to do two strand twist.

What I used tonight: Organic Root Stimulator Coconut Oil, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Shea Moisture Reconstructive Elixir, Ms. Liz Magic Leave In Conditioner (My stylist's concoction of her homemade leave in she uses. It is a special formula of different oils, conditioners and water. She won't even tell me what she puts in it. She sells it for $5.)

I would NEVER leave the house in my two strand twist, definitely not doing that in the dry twist. Me fresh face almost ready to for bed. Need to put on my bonnet and crash...

Finished dry twist. I don't make them pretty, it's just to give my fro some definition.

I will take pictures and post tomorrow so you can see how they turned out. I need to work on my flat twist and cornrolling; one of these days!!

Weekend Love: Good or Bad Hair?

I've been fighting with my hair for over six years. I went natural for the first time about six years ago. No reason really; just wanted something new. 

I've been getting perms...or relaxers...whatever you want to call them...since I was 10 years old. The relaxer didn't make my hair break off. Besides the occasional scalp burns, the creamy crack didn't bother me. I got tired of the whole cost factor of getting your hair "did". Some black women spend more money on their hair and hair care products than they spend on their bills. I've seen women go without major necessities in order to get their hair done. I mean women trying to decide on whether to pay their light bill or get a touch up.

I wanted to save money and make a step in the direction of an all natural lifestyle, something I struggle with and still trying to achieve daily. 

Some women and men think that natural hair is nappy hair or bad hair. I have that internal struggle with myself everyday! I get really discourage with my hair. I want my hair to get wet and instantly look like Rachel True's glamorous locks. (Which will NEVER happen...Ms. True is Biracial.) I get discourage, I don't feel "pretty" and go back to the creamy crack. 

Rachel True (pic from actors.com)

When I flirt with natural hair, I'm not comfortable with it, so I hide it with wigs and pieces. Even last night I had a natural meltdown. I changed into four outfits only to realize I didn't like my hair and I slopped my wig back on my head. 

On Sunday, I attended Felicia Leatherwood's Loving Your Natural Hair Workshop here in Indianapolis. Ms. Leatherwood is a hair stylist out of Los Angeles who does hair for Jill Scott, Sanaa Latham, Terrence Howard and many more. So when it was broadcast she would be here in Indy. I was one of the first to buy a ticket. We even got product junkie swag bags!!! I love FREE stuff!

I learned so much from the workshops; techniques, eating healthy, styles. But what I learned most is to embrace my natural hair and LOVE MYSELF. Felicia told us to go home and for the next two weeks, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you love yourself THREE times a day. I challenge you to do the same thing. Let's see how we fill within two weeks time. In the meantime, I'm going to ween myself of my wigs and start being comfortable with what God put on my head; a glorious head of thick healthy tightly coiled hair.

Here are some pics from the Loving Your Natural Hair Workshop:

Felicia Leatherwood speaking to the audience.

Our free product junkie swag bags...A LOT of GREAT stuff!

MC of the festivities, Kyla Williamson.

Felicia demonstrating how to moisturize hair and a quick style remedy.

MC Kyla Williamson with Felicia Yvette Hooks, the woman who brought Felicia Leatherwood to Indy to speak.

Felicia continually told the audience, if we had any questions about our hair or hair products to contact her on her Facebook page and her website (Lovingyourhairworkshop.com). I invite you to do that. She answers her emails personally and is SO knowledgeable about ALL things hair...even Caucasian and Latina hair.