New Haircut!

I know I keep saying I'll get my bangs fixed and then I keep not doing it. Well, I finally did it. I decided the best time to get my hair cut is before my roots start growing out, so I treated myself to a wash and set before the cut. For those of you who are unfamiliar with a wash and set, here's a quick summary. Wash hair and rinse, condition hair and rinse, add deep conditioner and sit under the dryer, rinse, put rollers in hair with some sort of moisturizer, get back under the dryer until hair is completely dry, comb or blow dry to get desired style.

This was my first time under one of the big dryers. My rollers were so big that my head could hardly fit in there. Then I could hardly get out. I've found I don't like the big dryers because it's way too hot under there.  The little metal clips used to secure the rollers got really hot, and I had a nasty burn on my scalp. From now on, regular dryers for me.

Here's the end result. Honestly, I'm not completely satisfied with the bangs. They need to be shorter next time and less to the side, but they're definitely better than last time. Also, there's some nice face framing stuff happening. Of course, there's now way I'm going through all the work of putting rollers in my hair.

I borrowed my mom's InStyler just to see how it would turn out. It's nice, but I'll probably use a curling iron a little if I'm going out.

Formal Half Up Long Curly Hairstyle

I found another one of those hairstyles WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS. I think it looks interesting, so I'm willing to give it a try.

Ok, so I had to study the picture a little bit. It looks like a section of hair is pinned at the crown all bumpit style, and a section from each side near the face is pinned next to the creepy bumpit thing.

First, I parted the hair in half from ear to ear and pinned the back half to keep it out of the way.

Then I separated the side and front sections and clipped them.

In the picture, it looks like the roots are "teased". Well, I don't do that. I just twisted the hair and pushed it forward a little. My hair is poofy enough by itself. No teasing necessary. It took at least ten pins before I felt like the hair wouldn't fall down.

I brushed back each side section and attempted to pin them in place. The pins didn't work, so I used a little clip for each side.

Then I let the bangs out and released the back section from the clip. I really liked the way it looked, in spite of the time and all the pins. I should have set a timer so I would know exactly how long it took. The web site says to allow at least two hours for hot rollers and teasing and spraying and pinning and whatnot. Yeah, I'm not doing all that. I don't think I spent more than 15 minutes, and that was only because I was figuring out how to do it.

Mila Kunis: Low Undone Bun

This is actually the second time I've done this style, but I forgot to take pictures the first time. This is another one of my journeys into the land of hairpins. They really are amazing.

1st step: ponytail. I found that the short hairs in the front can actually reach a ponytail if it's high enough. However, this ponytail is low, and I hate the brushed-straight-back look, so I'm gonna pin it to the side.

Take small pieces of hair, twist them, and pin the ends into the base of the ponytail. I don't even know how many pieces I used. Maybe ten?

Oh hey, red streak! That's not dye. That's just too much time in the sun. Natural highlights and whatnot.

Mmm cinnamon roll hair. I didn't make it messy like the directions say. There's no point in trying that unless my hair is straightened and dry. That's probably why it looks drastically different from the Mila Kunis picture, but I like the way it turned out. With all the pieces of hair twisted around, it looks a lot more complicated than it is, and it feels really cool. I like to keep touching it all day long.

"A Cool Hair Idea That Just Requires a Few Hairpins"

This is the hairstyle I wore (or tried to wear) for the bosses' Labor Day barbecue. I wanted to have most of my hair down but off my face. First I had to buy hairpins because there wasn't a single one in the entire house. I now know the difference between hairpins and bobby pins. The hairstyle page includes a link to a video showing how to use hairpins. That was definitely a life saver because I've never done it before.

First I separated out the middle section to make a little bump. Not to high, though. I'm not one of THOSE girls with the 3-inch high bump. That's just crazy.

Part two sections on each side of the bump and twist them. At the end of each twist, insert the pins toward the face. I used two pins for each twist and at least four for the bump.

It felt really secure. I'll probably do a thinner middle section next time. I might straighten my hair first, too. That's one of the few good things about winter: my hair stays straight for days.

I wish I could include a picture of the awesome polka-dotted minidress I'm wearing, but I haven't figured out how to take full-length pictures of myself. I'm definitely not asking my mom to do it.

Easy Messy Up-do

I love updos because having my hair on my neck when it's hot is really annoying. I'm also starting to love anything with a twist. This style is like the half-up half-down except the down part is twisted. Cool.

Ok, put the front half of my hair in a ponytail. That part was easy enough. (Freshly washed hair with Motions hair lotion)

Twist the back half upwards and secure with pins. I added the end of the twist to the front ponytail.

I didn't curl the ponytail because I'm way too lazy for that, and I didn't leave any bangs out in the front because my bangs don't work in the summer. Soon....

I'm not sure how I feel about this style. I bet it would look better if I straightened my hair first. I'll probably try it again in about a month. The back twist kept sagging, probably because my hair was wet, and that was pretty annoying. Maybe more pins next time? We shall see.

Simple Side Braid

In my search for hairstyle ideas, I've found lots of sites telling me that braids are very popular right now. I used to wear my hair in cornrows all the time, so braids are not a new concept for me. I found this easy style on the Tresemme web site. I've worn a style similar to this one, but I've always made a skinnier braid. I thought trying a wider braid could be interesting. This style is great for me and my headaches because I could have most of my hair loose and still keep it off my face.

I didn't watch the video; I just read the three steps. It's pretty easy to figure this one out from the picture. I also didn't use the Tresemme mousse. Instead, I washed my hair and massaged in the Motions hair lotion from root to end, of course paying special attention to the ends.

First I had to separate out the hair for the braid and secure the rest of my hair.

Then I did the actual braid, twisting the strands toward the outside instead of inside. I just think the inside braids look a little funny as cornrows. I used a clip to hold the braid behind my ear instead of braiding all the way to the end. And that's it. Very simple style and finished very quickly. This one is definitely a keeper.

Pretty Twisted Bun

This is another hairstyle from Seventeen. I like wearing my hair in a bun because it's secure and off my face and neck, but I think brushing my hair straight back is really boring. This bun gives a boring style a little twist, literally.

I didn't wash my hair this morning, so I started with dry hair. That's actually good because the bun will be a little bigger than it would be with wet hair. I sprayed all over with leave-in conditioner to dampen the hair a little and make it easier to work with and also to make the edges lay down.

Deep part. Check. I made another part a couple inches below the first one to create a rectangular section of hair.

I tightly twisted the top section of hair. While holding the twist, I gathered the rest of my hair into a ponytail behind my ear and added the twist on top.

I divided the ponytail hair into 2 sections and twisted one section around the first to make a bun. Then I twisted the second section around the first bun. I think it looks like a Cinnabon. It's kinda making me hungry. By the way, taking a picture of the back of your head is really difficult.

I really like the finished product. Normally, I don't do side ponytails or buns, but the cuteness of this one really surprised me. I might do it more to side next time just to see how that looks. Also, this only took a few minutes. I'm not one of those people who wakes up extra early for hair and makeup. I like my sleep.

Triple Ponytail

Today I wanted to try a new hairstyle. I searched for hairstyles online, and I just kept getting pictures of girls with their hair parted and brushed down. Ok, that's not a hairstyle. It's a haircut. And that doesn't help me. Most updos are meant for prom or weddings, but I don't usually go anywhere except work and stores near my house. I don't need fancy hair for that. I just need it to be off my face and neck so I don't get hot. Oddly enough, the web site I found most helpful is Seventeen magazine. It's been awhile since I was a teenager, but I decided to give them a chance anyway. I looked through all of the hairstyles for medium-length hair and curly hair and eventually settled on this one under Updo Hairstyles. Obviously, my hair is different from the model's hair, so I can't expect the style to come out the same way on me.

Last night after I washed my hair and greased my scalp, I braided each of the four sections. When I unbraided them this morning, I was left with a nice crimping effect.

Since I have this bangs situation, I usually need to separate a triangular-esque portion from the front my my hair to be pinned back later.

Before I made the three ponytails, I sprayed the hair close to my scalp with Aussie Hair Insurance. This stuff smells great, and my hair is easier to work with when it's wet. The spray also hardens a little bit when it dries, so all the strands of hair are held in place. After I made the ponytails, I generously sprayed the hanging hair. Since my hair curls more when it's wet, I thought this would give the curls a little boost and also help keep them nice throughout the day.

The finished product kind of looks just like the next to last step. I wasn't exactly sure on how pinning the ends of the ponytails was supposed to work, so it came out a little wonky-looking. I actually prefer the look of the penultimate step since it gives the illusion of one long ponytail. I really enjoyed this style, and I'll definitely be adding it to my regular rotation.

You Put Grease In Your Hair? Like, Bacon Grease?

Yesterday, I started to notice some itchiness throughout my scalp. I can't even remember the last time I greased my scalp, so it's definitely time to do it again. Whenever I say "hair grease" in front of people who aren't black, I get blank stares. These are people who say "if I don't wash my hair every day, it gets all greasy." Yeah, right. I'll show you greasy.

When I was in college (all girls college), we always had clogged drains. The residence life staff recommended we all comb our hair before the shower to get rid of any loose strands and decrease the amount of hair in the drains. Well, I still do it.  Yeah, it's poofy. I don't go outside like this.

I've got my mom's Pantene shampoo and conditioner, my Super Gro hair grease, my Motions hair lotion, and a rat-tail comb and pick. 

After washing, I use the tail end of the comb to part the hair into 4 or 6 sections. I did 4 sections this time. Then I apply grease to all of the parts and the edges.

In each section, I make parts about 0.5 to 1 inch apart and grease them. 

I also apply a small amount of grease to my palms and rub it into the ends of each section, making sure to get the ends of the shorter layers.

Then I massage a small amount of the hair lotion through each section of hair. I know it doesn't look like that much, but it was plenty. After moisturizing, I use the pick to get rid of any tangles. In the past, I always used a wide-tooth comb, but my mom recently suggested using a pick. I thought it was a terrible idea because the teeth are so close together and picks make me think of the guys in baggy jeans and hoodies who walk around with a pick sticking out of their nappy fro, but I tried it anyway. It turns out I lose less hair with a pick. Of course I realize hair that breaks off could be unhealthy, but the detangling implement could also be to blame. It's always good to find what works best for your hair.

I don't expect the grease to make my hair grow like it says on the jar. I just use it because it smells great and it isn't thick or heavy. When applied to my scalp, my body heat softens the grease so it's more like oil. I can massage my scalp and spread the grease to any places I may have missed. This is also good for my headaches.

I'm not one of those sulfate-free shampoo people. It's so irritating when people with straight, fine hair say "you should use shampoo without sulfate or you should just stop using shampoo." My response: maybe YOU should do that, but my hair isn't like yours. Yeah, I get irritated when people act like the stuff that works for them works for everyone. I'm not telling anyone to grease their hair; I'm just showing how I do it because people ask. Yes, sulfate strips oil from your hair. That's how it cleans your hair. When I grease my scalp, I like to start with a clean, fresh scalp and hair. It's just a strange personal preference, I guess.

Allow Me To Introduce You To The Mystery That Is My Hair

I get so many questions about my hair. I'm mistaken for Dominican, Guyanese, Haitian and Puerto Rican almost on a daily basis, and I'm pretty sure the hair is what throws people off. I've also been asked if I'm from Jamaica, St. Thomas and Barbados. Nope. I'm American and so are both of my parents. How did my sister, father and I manage to grow this stuff? I have absolutely no idea. I don't consider my hair long, but I have been charged extra in hair salons.

This how my hair looks now when it's freshly washed. It's a few inches shorter than usual, still recovering from the last pruning. I don't know if you can tell, but it's been relaxed. At first I was using Mizani relaxer, but my hair doesn't really respond to it. Now I use Optimum relaxer, and the results are much better. I chose to relax my hair because it was completely unmanageable. An untold number of combs and brushes have lost their lives because my hair snapped them in half. My mom always gave me cornrows when I was younger, but it hurt so much. Plus it gives headaches. I had waist-long braids with weave once, but it was way too heavy and way too expensive. Never again. Before the relaxer, I tried wave nouveau and texturizer; those are all pretty similar. I didn't really like wave nouveau because of the products required to keep it looking good. That stuff smells weird. I liked the texturizer, but every time I had it touched up, my  hair got a little closer to being relaxed. Now I'm all the way there. By the way, I didn't have any chemical treatments until high school. There are relaxers specifically for children, but I won't be doing that to my children if/when I have some. I just don't think it's a good idea.

I have some sort of layers and side bangs going on. When I had the bangs done, I wasn't completely sure what I wanted. Bad idea. Always bring pictures. I'll probably wait until my hair is willing to be straightened (mid-October?) before I get the bangs fixed. I definitely want them shorter, and I want them to cover more of my forehead. Not blunt, though. It's complicated. 

I borrowed my mom's shampoo and conditioner today: Pantene Moisture Renewal 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner and Pantene Fragile-to-Strong Conditioner. I try to stay away from their Relaxed & Natural products, mainly because I'm offended by the brown bottles. I like to try different products. I never buy huge sizes because I hate waiting months for it to run out so I can get something else. For shampoo and conditioner, in addition to Pantene, I've used White Rain, Suave, Organix, Garnier Fructis, Tresemme, Creme of Nature (it's for black people but has different colored bottles), Herbal Essences, Dove and Mane & Tail. I really like them all except White Rain and regular Suave; Suave Professional is much better. Also, Creme of Nature has a weird smell, and I prefer fruity or flowery smells.

For days like today when I don't really care that much about how my hair looks, I'll just use some sort of moisturizer like Motions Hair Lotion (smells great) or Pink Oil Moisturizer (smells weird) to make sure my hair won't be dry and then throw it into some sort of messy bun or clip. Eventually, my scalp will require some special care, either hair grease or oil. There will definitely be more on that later.

I once saw a Youtube video with a woman sitting in her car during her lunch break and having a hardcore rant about black women with long hair. I really wanted to link it here because it was absolutely hilarious. Unfortunately, I can't find it right now, but if I do, I'll definitely post it.

Let's Get This Thing Started

I am an insomniac. One night around 3:00 AM, I came across Idée Géniale, a blog specializing in hair tips and product reviews, fashion, and food. Well, I have hair and clothes and I eat, so why not? (after I hungrily devoured the entire blog from end to beginning and then started in on her friends)

I love shopping. I don't pay attention to any of that Fashion Week stuff because runway clothes tend to be ridiculous, impractical and sometimes nauseating. I look at everyone around me in NYC to see trends in action. It's like a constant fashion show. For example, these unwitting models have shown me that many people cannot tell the difference between leggings and tights. Almost every day, I see cute shirts with see-through leggings, which means I also see underwear and butt/thigh dimples. I don't know why anyone would want to show off their dimples. Personal preference, I guess. Also, one of my biggest fashion pet peeves. If you're wearing them in the summer, aren't you hot? If you're wearing them in the winter, aren't you cold? Can you think of any other garment that's meant for both heat waves and snowstorms? I can't. I don't think that exists. Yeah, I could go on about leggings for a very long time. I might do that one of these days even though it tends to piss off the people who wear them.

I love food. I don't eat very much, but I wish I could. I've been told I need a reverse gastric bypass. That's probably true. Still, I love food presentation, and I almost always take pictures in restaurants. I'm not so much into cooking, which is something I'd like to work on, but I've always enjoyed baking. I really want to make some fruit pies and chocolate pies, maybe because it's summer. Wish me luck. I'll definitely need it. Maybe a prayer and a miracle, too.

I do not love fighting with my hair, but it's necessary. If I can be of help to anyone out there with hair like mine, that would be great. I'll probably be showing my attempts at new hairstyles and the disastrous results. My hair can be extremely unruly, especially in the summer. I don't usually even attempt to straighten it until at least mid-October. Until then, all my adventures will be curly.