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May 18, 2012 

STRAIGHT MOVES: Maintaining Flat-Ironed Hair With Minimal Heat

I remember the first time I had my hair flat-ironed after going natural. I was AMAZED! First of all, the process was nowhere as difficult and time-consuming as I thought it would be. Second of all, my hair looked incredible. Compared to when I used to relax it, this hair had so much more body and life to it! The first thing out of my mouth was, “If I knew my hair could look this good, straight or curly, I would have never relaxed it!” However, maintaining healthy flat-ironed hair still requires work, which I’ve learned over the years.

HomieLoverFriend and I gettin' our dance on in December 2008

I have to admit something. Though I’m pretty handy and self-sufficient when it comes to my hair, I haven’t ever washed, blow dried, and flat-ironed my hair on my own since going natural. The main reason is because I don’t have the best flat-iron or blow drier, which I hope to rectify soon. I do have a good enough iron for touch ups, but I’m happy to say I haven’t picked it up once in the week since I flat-ironed my hair! This is a feat for me, because I used to be borderline-obsessive about my flat-iron touch ups. When I started teetering on the brink of heat damage from using the iron almost every other day, I knew I’d have to find a new way to maintain my flat-ironed locks until wash day.

During my most recent flat-iron rendezvous. P.S. - Don't mess with Sunset rum from St. Vincent...

My maintenance routine is pretty damn simple, and requires 4 tools: my trusty satin scarf, Denman brush, duckbill clips, and coconut oil.

When I was relaxed, I used to just sleep on my hair any ole kinda way and get up early to make it look decent in the morning. That was the same vibe I had when I went natural and started flat-ironing. Now, I see that maintenance, especially during sleepytime, takes so much work out of the morning routine! Wrapping my hair is a must, even though it took me a while to get the hang of it. I use my Denman to brush my hair in a circular clockwise motion, and use 3-4 duckbill clips to pin my hair down at various sections. My wrap never looks perfect, but once I get my hair laid, I’m good to go. I tie it down snugly (not tightly – I hate that line across the forehead in the morning), and hit the sheets!

TOLD you my wraps aren't pretty! When I saw how bad this one looked, I asked the Mister to wait for me to re-wrap so he could take another shot. He said no.

In the morning, I remove the scarf and clips, and use the Denman to brush down my hair. I smooth my hair with a small amount of coconut oil (which adds shine and fights frizz), and I’m on my way! No extra heat required!

Of course, with straightened hair, moisture isn’t an ally. If I get a bit frizzy from a steamy post-shower bathroom or when it’s very humid out, I apply some coconut oil, wrap my hair, tie it down, and that usually remedies the situation right away. It’s a similar process if I put my hair up one day, and want to get rid of those annoying hair elastic waves when I wear it down. In rare circumstances I do have to bring out the good ole flat-iron, but I do what I can to avoid any extra usage.

The message of the day? Wrapping your hair is the way, the truth, and the light if you want to maintain healthy and happy flat-ironed hair!

Are you a natural-haired chica who flat-irons your hair? Do you find yourself reaching for the iron often for touch-ups, or you manage with another technique? What’s the best flat-iron and blow dryer out now? A sista needs some new tools!

March 14, 2012 

Spring Flings: New Season, New Hair Regimen

Sunshine makes me wanna get ready for Caribana! Photo courtesy of iShotYa Photography

I don’t know about your neck of the woods, but this winter in Toronto was the mildest I’ve ever seen! While I’m not complaining (I’m really not a cold weather kind of gyal), I wouldn’t have minded getting a LITTLE more usage out of my expensive winter tires…but hey, it is what it is!

This week, Canada’s Screwface capital has turned those frowns upside down, and everyone is a bit more smiley than usual. The sun is out, temperatures are in the teens (Celsius, folks), and people are able to drive with windows down, sunroofs open, and music blasting at ignorant levels. Spring looks like it’s fully springing around these parts, and I am not mad. Since this is Canada, we may get snow next week – but for now, the city is enjoying the early kiss of warmth.

When it comes to hair care, I always switch things up in the warmer weather. I follow different regimens in the cold vs. hot seasons, so it’s about that time for me to start implementing some of my spring/summer hair plans:

Styles: 

In the winter, I like to keep my hair up and protected – fragile ends rubbing on rough cotton scarves and turtlenecks? No thank you. Hair exposed to wild winds and below-freezing temps? I’ll pass. During the winter, buns, pinned up twists, and silk-lined hats are my best friends – but during the spring and summer, I let loose! Twist-outs, braid-outs, I love anything out – my wash n’ gos flourish in the heat too. I’ll also do a flat-iron here or there, but definitely not in the humidity of Toronto summers. Spring and autumn are my hair sweet spots, so I’m looking forward to the return of good hair days!

Conditioning:

I’m gearing up to pack away my rich, heavy conditioners and get into my springtime products. Even though the winter was pretty mild, it was still winter! I found myself using heavier conditioners like Elasta QP’s DPR-11 on a regular basis in order to keep my hair moisturized. Once the weather gets warmer, I find I can leave DPR-11 for deep treatments only, and go back to my Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. I’m also looking to order some more Earthtones Naturals products and see how they hold up in the warmer months. During the spring/summer, my hair is usually good with a light application of  coconut oil or HEHH as a leave-in…and I always keep my spritz bottle full of water handy! Honey also goes back into my HEHH for co-washing – as a natural humectant, honey helps to retain moisture and protect from humidity. Some people find that honey works better for them in the winter, but it helps my curls clump together and stay moist and frizz-free during the summer.

Good Weather, Bad Habits:

I always need to keep myself in check during the spring and summer. Because my wash n’ gos are easier to manage and look better in the warmth, I tend to get lazy at times and rock it for too long, leading to knots and tangles when it’s wash time. As we get closer to summertime, I also need to take extra care to use moisturizing products with some kind of sunscreen. My hair has the tendency of getting bleached to a bright red colour by the sun, and the excess heat can be just as damaging as the bitter cold. I’m not a swimmer, but if I plan to frolic in some open body of water (which actually scares me to death), I have to remember to at least rinse my hair as soon as I get out of the water. Nothing worse than having crusty chlorinated hair, or hair with dried salt in it. Trying to work with your hair when it’s in a dried, angry state is never good, and takes too much time away from my fun in the sun!

Do you make any changes to your hair regimen when the seasons change? What products and styles do you enjoy in the warmer months? 

 P.S. – Today is the day – my Toronto Fashion Week debut! Check here for details and how you can watch the show!

 

February 10, 2012 

Hair Boredom: What To Do When You Need Something New

Hey y’all! I got a few posts out this week, but still feel neglectful :( I had an assignment due for one of the classes I’m taking this semester (I’m finishing up a post-grad certificate in Health Promotion), so I had to devote a lot of research and writing time to that.

TGIF in a major way though! It’s shaping up to be another busy weekend, but I’m looking forward to catching up on some sleep and FINALLY doing something with my hair! It’s been draped up in a tired bun for the past few days, so I can’t wait to wash and make it look half-decent.

Can’t lie though – I’ve been getting increasingly bored with my hair. My usual two-strand twist-out is getting PLAYED out, so I need something new, and fast. Part of this yearning for newness likely also has to do with the fact that the days are getting longer, which means spring is just around the corner (even though we’ve been enjoying a crazy mild winter in Toronto). With spring comes all things fresh and new, and I always get the urge to switch things up once winter thaws out. But what to do?

Photo souce: Party Over Hair

I’ve been dreaming about twists for a while now. Thick kinky twists, small Senegalese twists…this style is so easy yet so versatile. I’d love to rock some super-long twists to get the best of both worlds: I can take a hair break AND still have crazy style options? Where do I sign up?

Photo source: Popstar

Even further back than the twists, I’ve had colour on my mind. I usually go light for the spring/summer, but skipped 2011. I’m craving some multi-dimensional pops of colour, and Tanika Ray has always been my hair dye dream girl. I’ve coloured before with no real damage, so I’m not afraid to take that leap. Some sunshiny-bright hair would definitely give me a new look, so maybe that’s the way to go…

Maybe I just need to do a quick lil’ flat iron and rock some straight locks for a while? I haven’t straightened my hair in a few months, so maybe that’s the change I need. The only thing that annoys me about straight hair is having to wrap it at night…sometimes a girl just wants to throw it in a bun and jump in the sack! I can’t be bothered with the extra work at times – but it definitely allows me to keep my ‘do looking fresh for a LONG time. A good wrap at night = no need to do any touch-ups with the flat iron. I got a great trim at my last hair appointment and I’ve been working hard to protect my ends, so it would be nice to see how much length I’ve gained/retained…

With my favourite cup - one that I got at my 3rd birthday party!

Makeup-less...but I could have at least put a lil Vaseline on my lips :/

With the little sis!

…or maybe I just need to stop being lazy. If I put in more effort, I’m sure I could make the most of what I’ve got! I was (at one point) pretty creative with updos (like the top photo – loose flat twisted front into a low bun) – if I took the time, I’m sure I could come up with something cute! I could also pull out some heat protectant serum with my trusty blow dryer and do a blown-out wash n’ go (like second photo) or blow my hair out prior to twisting. Or, I could take my own advice and get busy with my Curlformers (used in third photo)! I’ve been meaning to rock with them as of late, so I need to be like Nike and just do it. Maybe the only change I need is to make some more time for myself and explore something other than a bun or a twist-out. Could the answer be so simple?

Anyone out there also stuck in a hair rut? Do you have any big plans for a new spring style? Have an idea for a style I should try? Let a sista know!

January 19, 2012 

Not Quite Short But Not Quite Long: Styling Hair In The “In-Between” Phase

I recently had a friend hit me up on Facebook, asking for details about my NYE hair style. She said, “Please tell me how you get your hair like you have in your current profile pic? I’m looking for my options for natural hair styles. My hair is much shorter so it may not look so fro-fabulous, but I’m willing to try.” That took me back to the days when my hair was much shorter than it is now, and the constant thoughts of “What am I going to do with it today?”

As I’ve mentioned before, I transitioned to natural hair for one year, then did my big chop in August of 2008. My hair was the shortest it had ever been, and I had no clue how to style it. My favourite online resource was Fotki, a photography site where I found a ton of naturalistas congregating and sharing their hair regimens and styles. I quickly created an account and joined the network of women documenting their journeys from big chops and beyond. For women who did the ultimate big chop, I heard from many of them that things get a bit frustrating when they start to gain a bit of length. I took some time to look back at my hair in those early days, and thought to post some of those photos here for anyone who needs some inspiration. If your hair is not really short, but not really long – this post is for you!

(click photos to enlarge)

This was the first picture I took when I left the salon that did my big chop.The look on my face says it all: "WTF???" I had zero clue what I was doing...lol!

Just after a photo shoot - hair was in a twist-out, which was my go-to style in the early days.

A month after the BC (big chop), I had my hair professionally styled for a wedding. Cornrows on one side, with coils that were released for a full, curly look. Loved it!

This was the first time I tried a twist-out on dry hair - I loved the stretch and the fluffiness of it!

Here, I tried doing a twist-out with really small twists. Led to an entirely new look, with much more defined curls. Pinned back the front and sides, and was good to go!

During that in-betweeny phase, hair accessories like bobby pins, clips, and scarves were by BFFs. Here, I used a silk scarf to pull my curls back into a pouf.

I started doing braid-outs with coiled ends, and got a different, but defined look.

A two-day old braid-out - in that early stage, braid-outs stretched my hair and gave me a bit more length than I thought I had.

An oldie but goodie from January 2009 - I used bobby pins to shape almost every style I did. Who's that on that far right? Rowena from nubiansoulslocks.blogspot.com!

For the days when I wanted to let my twists chill for a bit, I pulled out the crochet hat...cute and simple style, especially if I knew my twists weren't dry enough to undo!

What were my favourite products back in the early days? I used Pantene Pro-V’s Relaxed & Natural conditioner, Queen Helene’s conditioner, Aussie’s 3-Minute Miracle, Elasta QP Mango leave-in conditioner, Ramoni leave-in conditioner (mixed with extra virgin olive oil aka EVOO), Organics Lock & Twist Gel, IC Fantasia Gel, and Kinky Curly Curling Custard. Yeah, I was a bit of a product junkie! I’ve simplified a lot since then, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with new naturals indulging in product overload – it’s part of the learning process.

Patience is another part of the in-between phase. Once I started focusing on the health of my hair versus the length of my hair, I began to enjoy the whole journey even more. Now that my hair has grown, I look back and realize that certain styles actually looked better then than now! Sometimes the quest for long hair is overrated – if that’s your goal, then by all means, go for it! Just don’t forget to enjoy where you are right now. Natural hair lends itself well to many different style options, so try them all! Twist-outs, braid-outs, coil-outs – do them on wet hair, do them on dry hair, do them on lightly blow-dried hair, do them big or small. Wash n’ gos, careful flat ironing…the options are endless! Get creative and enjoy!

Are you smack dab in the middle of this “in-between” phase right now? Are you enjoying it, or are you waiting for more length? If you have any style or product tips that have worked for you, let us know!

November 28, 2011 

Salon Reviews: Pearson Lanes Hair Studio

I feel good, y’all. You know why? Because I think I’ve found my new hair home!

I’ve found a stylist who works with my hair SO WELL – and the results are always on point! Allow me to introduce you to the work of Keren at Pearson Lanes Hair Studio in Whitby, ON.

I first met Keren back in April, when she was hired to be the hairstylist for my cousin’s wedding. As I was a bridesmaid, she hooked me up with an awesome side-swept style with luscious curls (see pic 1 above). My hair was already flat-ironed, and she whipped that style into shape in no time. Whatever tactics she used enabled the style to last for DAYS, and my hair had zero heat damage.

For my own wedding in August, I knew I had to have Keren on board. She came solo and took care of myself and the bridal party with no problems. She was able to manipulate hair of various texture (natural, weaved, permed) into gorgeous styles that held up on that hot summer day. You can see my retro curled updo in pics 2 and 3, and my niece’s cornrow/twist combo in pic 4.

This weekend when I needed a trim, I decided to head east to Keren’s shop. I had no issues booking an appointment with her earlier in the week, but it was something she did on Saturday morning that really impressed me:

My appointment was for 2pm. Keren gave me a call around 11:30am, stating that she was running a bit behind with other clients…would I mind coming in half an hour later? I had no problem with that, and was very impressed that she had the forethought to call me in advance so that I didn’t show up at 2pm and then twiddle my thumbs for 30 minutes.

The cute, quaint, and clean shop is easy to find -  just a few minutes drive from the Brock Street exit off the 401. I showed up, and Keren was ready to go! Let me tell you, she did not disappoint! I went in for a simple wash, style, and trim, but the care and knowledge that Keren used made all the difference. No yanking my hair to detangle, no scratching the hell out of my scalp while washing, no burning my hair off with high-heat appliances, and no mistaking a “trim” for a “haircut”!

I almost let out a sigh of relief when I left the salon (did I mention that I didn’t leave broke either?) – I felt like I finally found a professional who I can trust with my hair, and THAT is hard to find these days. Next up for Keren and I? My long-awaited colour…in light of the recent news about harmful PPD products in hair dye (like my girl Ro talked about here), Keren confirmed that all of her professional hair colour products are PPD free!

If you’re looking for a versatile stylist, especially my natural-haired ladies, you might want to give Keren a try! Check out Pearson Lanes Hair Studio’s Facebook page here, and if you have any other questions, feel free to hit me up!

November 17, 2011 

Bee’s Tips & Tricks For Managing Multiple Hair Textures

I recently had someone ask me what was my least favourite thing about wearing my hair natural. I’ve had a few hair-related struggles over the past 3 years, but the most annoying thing about wearing my hair natural? Having to deal with multiple textures. Ugh.

I remember back when I used to relax my hair, my stylist would always comment on a patch of hair in the back of my head (aka “the kitchen”) that would seem shorter, more coarse, and more fragile than the rest of my head. She gave me all kinds of lotions, potions, and mixtures to apply to the “damaged area” in hopes that I would “fix” whatever I did to it, and have it behave like the rest of my hair. It wasn’t until I grew out the relaxer and wore my hair naturally that I realized – this is just how my hair is!

The reality is, our heads are not generally made up of uniform texture. You can have patches of loose waves, tight kinks, and big clumpy corkscrew curls on the same head – which is what I have. The question then becomes, how do you work with all those textures to get the look and style you want?

My hair is similar to this in the front and back...

...with some of this in the "kitchen"

For me, the easiest thing to do is stretched styles. Braid-outs, twist-outs, and Bantu knots help me to blend my multiple textures. I always have to remember that the same “kitchen” area takes longer to dry than everywhere else. There’s nothing worse than doing a nice set of Bantu knots, unraveling them, and having that kinky kitchen part be damp…just means it’s going to shrink up like nobody’s business as the day goes on! For my braid and twist-outs, I usually pull them into a bun for a day or two…once I undo them, they’re fully dry and stretched – but then I have to be careful of my front and back portions…if I’m not careful, those parts will be TOO loose! Sigh. A sista can’t win. I’ve pretty much mastered the style to get the look I want, but everyday is a bit different.

The bane of my natural haired existence would have to be the wash n’ go. If the hair gods smile down on me, a properly diffused wash n’ go will come out looking wild and wonderful…but if not, I get that supreme ugly reverse mullet. With a not-so-great wash n’ go, or not-fully-dry twist out, I pull out clips and bobby pins and get to work! I can usually create a cool bouffant style and keep it movin’.

For all my natural-haired sistas, did you discover that you also had multiple textures? How do yours work together? What tips and tricks do you have to blend your kinks and curls?

November 9, 2011 

Honeymoon Hair: Straight to Kinky & Everything In Between

Do you remember the post I wrote recently on vacation hair? I had my St. Lucia trip in mind, but had no clue how drastically different this vacation would be compared to those in the past. Where on previous trips, I was able to maintain one or two different styles for the duration of the trip, this trip had me in a different style almost every day!

When we arrived in St. Lucia, I still had my hair pressed from my visit to Urban Textures. The air conditioning on the shuttle from the airport to resort keep me cool and intact…

…but a short time in the humid island weather had me poufing out like nobody’s business! For dinner on the first night, I slicked back the front and pulled my hair into a low side ponytail/pouf situation – it worked though!

I was able to enjoy a day at the pool the following day….since I figured my hair would get wet at some point then, I just pulled those poufy tresses up into a high bun, and held down my flyaways with a black headband made from the leg of some old pantyhose (Goody ain’t got nothin’ on me!):

After splish-splashing in the pool and the Caribbean Sea, I ended up co-washing and twisting with some gel and shea butter, then pinned them up for the night, and the next day…

Later that day, it was time to let those twists loose…the humidity was SO much kinder to my curls!

After spending another day on and in the water (speedboating, snorkeling, bathing in mud and doing photo shoots under waterfalls), needless to say, a redo was necessary:

I loved this snakeskin/50′s roll + headwrap combo….I twisted my hair into what I call “loose” Bantu knots – I coiled the twists flat against my head and bobbypinned them instead of twisting into the regular knots that hold themselves together. I had two twists in the front that I had no clue what to do with, and since my hair was still wet, I got a couple more bobbypins out…coiled the two twists around each other, then tied on a headwrap leaving the front out. Black winged liner, my fave specs, and a red lip and I was good to go!

The next day, I undid the twists, but as usually happens with anything Bantu-related, my hair was not fully dry. I let my hair down, pinned back the sides to force fullness in the back (and cover the frizzy damp parts), and hit the road. Not the greatest pic, but here ya go:

I ended up back in the water after our morning at the school, but preferred taking a nap over staying up to twist my hair again…so for dinner that night, I pulled out a few clips and bobbypins and got to work on a quick updo:

French-rolled in the back and held in place with clips, I took the front piece and twisted it back and to the side, then pinned it in place. Do you recognize that peek of blue I’m wearing? It’s the same Henkaa dress I wore here, but I tried a sweetheart style:

Did I mention I LOVE these dresses? I need another one ASAP because y’all are going to be tired of seeing this one!

By this point, our trip was almost over. My hair either stayed pinned up or thrown into a messy bun. For our last night, we headed off the resort and to a nearby street party that pops off every Friday night. I was feeling hella lazy at this point, so it was all about jeans, a tank top, and lipgloss. That’s it. I had my hair in a bun, but hadn’t slicked the front down to my liking, so I threw on a silk scarf:

The next day, it was time to call it a week, and hop on that plane home.

So, what tools did I bring with me?

  • Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner
  • Ampro gel
  • Shea butter
  • Elastics
  • Pantyhose headband
  • Bobbypins
  • Banana clips
  • 2 Headscarves

And that’s it! For me, it was minimal work with maximum style…just the way I likes it! I ensured that I loaded up with conditioner before I headed out for the day, in order to keep my hair moist under the hot sun, and protected from chlorine and salt in the water. As soon as we got back to the room, I would rinse or just spritz my hair with water and add more conditioner. I would *try* to sleep with my silk headscarf, but that didn’t always happen ;) Other than that, I didn’t worry about my hair too much…I was too busy having fun!

There you have it – my honeymoon week hair! Do you have any vacation plans coming up? Are you already setting your hair plans in motion, or do you just go with the flow?

October 27, 2011 

Beaches & Braid-Outs: Planning For Vacation Hair

If you didn’t know, I’ll be going on a trip next week. Not just any ole trip, but a very special trip, with a very special friend, to do some very special things! A week away is JUST what the doctor ordered, so while I’ll miss regularly posting on here, I’m sure I’ll get over it ;)

Hair is always an issue for me when I go on vacay. When I had my hair relaxed, my go-to style was always to throw in some cute cornrows and call it a day. I just needed my scalp spray and my silk scarf, and I was good to go. Since going natural, vacation hair has gotten more fun – cornrows aren’t needed when I’m not concerned about getting my hair wet at the pool, and humidity is no longer my worst hair enemy. No telling what I’ll end up doing with my hair on this upcoming trip since I currently have it flat ironed, but I’ll be prepared…

Here are some of my previous vacay looks:

Wash n' Go in Boston (April 2010)

A fresh, pinned up twist-out in Las Vegas (April 2011)

Wash n' Go w/ Kinky Curly Curling Custard in the Bahamas (January 2009)

Side cornrow/twist combo in Maryland (September 2008)

Humidity-ravaged bouffant in Miami (May 2009)

Braid-out in St. Vincent (July 2011)

As you can see, I like to travel :) I’ve learned to plan for the most low-key vacation regimens so that I’m not weighing my luggage down, or spending too much time in the bathroom mirror. Here’s what I usually do:

  • Prior to leaving, I usually deep condition, wash, and twist or braid my hair. About 15 twists/braids will do, and I will pull them up into a bun or pin them up. This helps to stretch the hair in advance of any hair-shrinking humidity, and gives me minimal issues going through airport security checks. I used to wear a crochet hat over my twists, but having to take them off and ruin the whole boho traveler vibe wasn’t fun.
  • Once I’ve settled into my destination, I undo the twists/braids and get ready for fun! As my hair gets wet, or if humidity creates too much fro action, I’ll either a) go with the fro, b) wash and retwist, or c) do a wash n’ go. C is my least favourite option, as my wash n’ gos get supremely tangled after a day or two. B is my go-to, simply because for a day I can rock bunned or pinned twists, and then the next day I’ll unravel.

What products/tools do I bring? These days, I try to bring as little as possible:

  • A cheap conditioner – Herbal Essences or Suave is great. I it use to wash, and as a leave-in during my trip.
  • ONE styling product. Usually shea butter, since it solidifies – no leaking out in my luggage!
  • Lots and lots of bobby pins, elastic bands, scarves, headbands, and clips. These help me to section and twist my hair mid-vacation, and also give me some accessorizing options if my hair starts to lose its sexiness.

Things I don’t bring: No heat appliances – blow dryers are always in the hotel, or if staying with fam, I can dig one up somewhere. But drying my hair in the tropical sun is even better! No goopy product – saves me time and damage from in-flight explosions. I love products and tools that have multiple uses, which helps to make styling more efficient, and leaves more room in my luggage for items from Duty Free…

That’s pretty much it! No muss, no fuss, just cute, sexy, easy hair! Maybe next time I’ll try a more permanent style like cornrows, Senegalese twists, or braids – but as for this trip? It’ll be me and my curls :)

What are your favourite vacation styles? Do you prefer to do a permanent style to last you your whole trip (and beyond), or do you have your own vacation regimen? Do share!

October 18, 2011 

Hair Adventures: How Far Do You Go?

I’ve always been the type to try new things with my ‘do. At 16, I wanted a Halle Berry cut (which my stylist refused to d0). Throughout university, I coloured my hair blue-black, light brown, red, blonde, full head, highlights, you name it. Even going natural, I’ll do wash n’ gos, twist-outs, braid-outs, flat irons, roller sets, curlformers, ANYTHING. Granted, not everything has looked good on me, and not everything has been good for my hair (relaxer + colour, anybody?), but when the boredom hit me, I’d be down for whatever.

I remember once I started wearing my hair naturally, I told a girlfriend that I was bored, and was ready to hit the salon for a new colour. She looked at me incredulously and asked why I’d want to damage my hair just when I’d gotten it to such a healthy point…to which I just gave her a Kanye shrug. She was of the belief that once your hair is natural and healthy, you do whatever you can to keep it that way, and avoid ANYTHING that might damage it. Like scarves. And bobby pins. And hot water. And probably car headrests.  She also believed that once you colour your hair, you no longer belong to the “Natural club” as she called it…but that’s another discussion for another day. I was of the train of thought that, one, as long as I maintained optimal hair care, my hair would likely still thrive since it was only going through one of the two chemical processes that it used to; and two, that it was my hair, and I’ll do what I damn well please. She clucked like a disapproving mother hen, but I went ahead with my colour as planned – and LOVED it.

Here are a few of my colour and style moves:

Blonde-ish Twist-Out Ambition

Straight Caramel Streaks

Red Hot Wash n' Go (with my screwfaced brother)

Back to Black w/ The Swoop Bang

My personal view is that while having healthy hair is my top priority, having fun is almost equal. As long as you know how to take care of your hair, you’ll be fine! Doing a colour? Make sure you step up your moisturizing regimen. Going for a new cut? Make sure you know how it’ll look when you rock it curly vs. straight. And if worst comes to worst, remember that it’s just hair – it’ll grow back!

How adventurous are you with your hair? And if you aren’t adventurous, why not? What have been your best and worst styles to date? I just booked an appointment for some more adventure, so I’ll have an update later in the week!

October 10, 2011 

Stylin’ & Profilin’: Wedding Guest Edition

Last night, I went to the last wedding in my 6 month wedding season of 2011. We were invited to 8 weddings this year, and were able to attend 6 of them…plus we had our own, so you can say 2011 was definitely the Year of the Wedding! Each wedding was gorgeous in its own right, and I loved seeing how creative people got with making their special day stand out.

However, as a guest invited to so many weddings, the problem becomes: What do I wear??? I can’t even say this is a women’s issue either, because most of the men I know are very fashionable too, and aren’t trying to get tagged in someone’s Facebook pic wearing the same thing they wore to a wedding last month…

Yesterday’s wedding was probably one of my favourite overall looks, if I do say so myself :) Even though my hair kind of fell apart by the end of the night, I still managed to make it work:

Details on the dress: this is a convertible dress by a Toronto-based design company called Henkaa – I chose these dresses for my bridesmaids, and made sure I grabbed one for myself! These dresses truly work for ANY BODY: they come in a ton of colours; short and long versions; plus-sized options; and you can tie them in a million different ways. I’ll need to pick up a couple more, because I could rotate the Henkaa dress in my wardrobe an infinite amount of ways!

As for the hair, I wanted to try a regimen I’ve seen on a number of other natural hair sites. On Friday night, I washed and deep conditioned my hair (using the products I mention here), then twisted it into about 8 thick twists. The idea was to allow the hair to dry in a stretched state, then set the actual style the next day.

On Saturday morning, I undid the twists, then re-twisted into about 20 twists and pincurled them, laying them flat to my head with bobby pins. I decided to try this versus doing bantu knots, because I wanted to be able to tie my hair down flat for the day, which is impossible with my bantu knot styles. I couldn’t for the LIFE of me find my silk scarves, so I tied my hair down with a satin scarf, then did a cute headwrap with a larger cotton wrap. This is very important for me, because cotton sucks the moisture right out of your hair. I’ve learned from my mistakes of tying down my hair with cotton scarves, then waking up the next day to parched hair – never again! I always ensure that before anything cotton touches my head, there is something silk or satin as a buffer in-between.

Off I went for my day and night….then woke up Sunday morning, ready to unravel and create my wedding style:

My pincurled twists turned out into a cool, serpentine wave, but wasn’t set well enough to leave down. So I grabbed my trusty bucket of bobby pins, and got to pinning, and ended up with this cute, curly, side-pinned bouffant style:

I learned that while I liked this regimen and style, I definitely need to trim some dead ends that looked a bit straggly. I also need to play around with the placement of the pincurls so that it doesn’t look too separated and scalpy when I take them down. Other than that, I ended up happy that my hair dresser was busy and couldn’t take me on Saturday! I got this style for $free.99!

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