kandiikane: [img]http://aliciajames.files./2012/11/41-48-months-natural-hair.jpg?w=812[/img]

This right here gives me hope. I think I've got to be serious with maintaining my hair. Too much negligence too can stop the hair from growing to it's full potential.

MsDarkSkin:

LOL you are a trip!!
But yeah some of our ancestors came from Nigeria..not all though. We have ancestry all over the western shores of africa..heck even Madagascar believe it or not.

But Igbos definitely have influenced our language for sure. We even still use an old Igbo banking system ..we call it "padna (partner) draw" its where you have a group of people and they all put a certain percentage in the "group" with one acting as the banker. Every draw week one person in the group will inherit the money and it continues until everyone gets a lump sum. and it goes on and on..you can even borrow from it.

anyway, i had the thread closed down because i am about to take a hiatus from nl soon
(i can have it unlocked if you want)...and i didn't want it to get ruined by haters in my absense. but it'll be up and running when i come back.

kandiikane: @yield, I like the idea of the yarn braids. I've always wanted to do dreads, I guess this is the closest I can get to doing it. Erm, how do you mean it takes long. Is braiding it different to braiding normal hair extension and which exact yarn do you use. I want to try it.

P.s. I had to go google tthe 3a/b hair. I've never been sure what my hair type was because it wasn't in the 4s. Just found a website that just got me my exact type- 3c. I will try you the cantu shea butter.


lol, pray I continue in this journey, I give up easily growing my hair. I shall not shave my hair ever again, I will let it grow past my feet. lol

But i seriously love this below.


Going to save it to do for summer.

kandiikane:

Oh this padna you talk of is very common especially across west african women. We call it 'susso'

SniperInADiaper: How do you manage the new "baby hair" growths? This is my biggest struggle as it can make the whole hair style look messy.

Rify: Oh very nice thread. I had my last perm in sept 2012 too. One of the beat decisions I have taken for my hair yea? I know.
I haven't startd rocking my hair really, still transitioning. Wigs, braids trying to get to work with my natural. One thing I really wish to do is learn to put my extensions nyself. Pheeew.
Am documenting my journey though. Not much. But am so obsessed with natural hair now.
A lot of negative comments too. Most people haven't really accepted the natural hair thing in Nigeria but boy! Am loving the journey everyday.
www.naturalrify.

Rify: Oh very nice thread. I had my last perm in sept 2012 too. One of the beat decisions I have taken for my hair yea? I know.

I haven't startd rocking my hair really, still transitioning. Wigs, braids trying to get to work with my natural. One thing I really wish to do is learn to put my extensions nyself. Pheeew.

Am documenting my journey though. Not much. But am so obsessed with natural hair now.
A lot of negative comments too. Most people haven't really accepted the natural hair thing in Nigeria but boy! Am loving the journey everyday.
www.naturalrify.

kandiikane: Here are Photos since I last shaved my hair. It's grown but my hair grows inwards making the hair look dense instead of outwards to make it look longer. Anyway, at first glance someone would think it hasn't grown much but it has, the length's just hiding underneath.
I have literally gone overboard with the 'less is more' by completely neglecting my hair. Can't remember when I laast shampooed and conditioned it and creamed it-i mean the whole shibam. LAWD have mercy!! Thank God for wigcaps.

Luckily for me, my hair is soft so it's not dry even though I have not conditioned or creamed it in a while. Just get bits of strands on the side that can get dry. Probably because I sleep on it.

Erm, can someone recommend a good cream that's not oily based. Oil products just sit on my hair doing nothing.

Yield:

Nice blog. I co-washed back when I first BCed and it was aiight. I didn't care too much for it, but just stuck with it to see how it would fare. As my hair got longer I didn't think it was giving me that clean feeling I needed on my scalp, so I stopped and have never looked back. Personally, I don't like co-washing. Shampooing works best for me. I need my scalp to be clean. It works fine for some people, but not others and that's okay. Our hair responds to things differently.

Putting in braid extensions isn't difficult. There're different techniques. Some people cut the extension (that you will use to braid) into three, part their own hair that they will braid and add that part to one of the extensions strands, making sure their hand is as close to the scalp as possible. Other people start off by cornrowing the hair from the roots and then braiding up from there, while others just fold the extension into two, wrap it around their hair (again, making sure the hand is as close to the scalp as possible, this's creates a firm hold) and use their own hair as the third strand and just braid upwards from there. There's one more that I know off too, but it's more time-consuming and mainly for people who just have trouble getting a firm hold. I've tried all four when I started braiding, but now I just stick to the third technique. They probably sound difficult the way I explained them, but they're simple. It just takes practice. There're youtube videos that teach how to braid, so you can just look them up.

Yield:

Nice blog. I co-washed back when I first BCed and it was aiight. I didn't care too much for it, but just stuck with it to see how it would fare. As my hair got longer I didn't think it was giving me that clean feeling I needed on my scalp, so I stopped and have never looked back. Personally, I don't like co-washing. Shampooing works best for me. I need my scalp to be clean. It works fine for some people, but not others and that's okay. Our hair responds to things differently.

Putting in braid extensions isn't difficult. There're different techniques. Some people cut the extension (that you will use to braid) into three, part their own hair that they will braid and add that part to one of the extensions strands, making sure their hand is as close to the scalp as possible. Other people start off by cornrowing the hair from the roots and then braiding up from there, while others just fold the extension into two, wrap it around their hair (again, making sure the hand is as close to the scalp as possible, this's creates a firm hold) and use their own hair as the third strand and just braid upwards from there. There's one more that I know off too, but it's more time-consuming and mainly for people who just have trouble getting a firm hold. I've tried all four when I started braiding, but now I just stick to the third technique. They probably sound difficult the way I explained them, but they're simple. It just takes practice. There're youtube videos that teach how to braid, so you can just look them up.

*Kails*:


cool you stopped perming around the time i did. I like how you said "I haven't startd rocking my hair really, still transitioning. Wigs, braids trying to get to work with my natural."

when i first started i completely avoided EVERYTHING including weave. Hell, i even chastised other natural women who wore extensions . But what I have come to realize is that the "guilt" and resentment for weave I felt initially is quite common. Many women who transition begin to feel bad about their past habits (esp. if they are also on a spiritual journey) and then believe going natural means to let go of EVERYTHING. Unless that is the intention, it's not necessary. You can still wear hair pieces, weaves, as well as wigs and still be natural.

The issue is remembering not to neglect your natural hair. And to invest as much time and care necessary to keep it healthy without using relaxers of any kind!! Right now I am going on day two of getting my hair braided (small single braids are beautiful but time consuming!!!) and this will be my second time in a year. My hair is still at it's natural state plus it will help protect my hair from me as I just so happen to be a habitual hair manipulator..as in i often touch, brush and comb my hair..BIG NO! NO!

Anyway, enough with the preaching! I am happy you've decided to jump the "perm ship" and joined us natural sisters. It really is liberating on so many levels!! I do look forward to following your complete transition/hair journey!!

Rify:

Thank you *kails* as you follow my hair journey.I personally prefer wigs now just because weaves wont let me moisturize my hair as much as I want to. Its realky so liberating and I love the whole time I put in this process thats the amazing thing.i currently do have wig on now but wld do a sew in or stick to my braids. People keep asking "so when are you going natural"? And am like ... am doing that already, it sholudnt stip me from looking fly if I have to.I just don't put chemicals or use heat and all that on my hair anymore while I still take care of my hair.

Lol.. I could be like you sometimes. I touch my hair a lot, brush etc which is soooo not good. Am getting over that though.

*Kails*:


I agree with you.
going natural is the best decision I have made in a long time..perms kinda disgust me now lol. Hopefully you're wigs/extensions will curve your habit of touching your hair because believe it or not, nothing stops black hair from growing but our bad habits - touching, not wrapping, washing too much, and pulling!!

anyway, no pressure but if possible could you post some pix of your progress?

*Kails*:
try Cantu Shea Butter. I PROMISE you will love it!!! I guarantee it!
It's lightweight, smells good and once applied not only would it not clog your hair but it makes it much easier to comb through or style. It's not in the least bit oily in fact once it is properly distributed in your hair you won't even notice it.



my coworker recommended it to me two/three months ago and I haven't looked back!!

[size=13pt]Heyyyy! That's my leave-in!! Lmao. I loooooove it. One of the best products I own.

Kails, how far with your natural hair? Completely natural or still transitioning? I'm too lazy to read the whole thread [/size]