So I got the results back from my doctor a few weeks ago. I do in fact have Central Scarring Alopecia. I am happy to finally have closure on this but now it is definitely real.
She put me on antibiotics twice a day, which is good. The downside is that they make me nauseous and I have be very careful about what I eat before and after I take the medicine. I have been on them for almost a month I wasn't sure if they were "working" or not since I am still wearing a weave. I just got home for break and it was time to get my weave redone. I was dreading taking out my braids and combing through my hair. But to my surprise, I didn't lose that much hair and I really think that the medicine is working. My scalp hasn't been sore or itchy either, so I am feeling good about the prospect of not losing anymore hair.
So my plan is to keep wearing this protective style in hopes of giving my natural hair a rest. It has grown a lot and I hope to continue keeping it "safe" for a little longer. I figure the longer my hair is, the easier it will be to hide my bald spots.
Once again, the Marcella Ellis Salon did a fantastic job and I opted for something a little shorter this time. All in all things are well and I will keep you all updated on my hair health.
Follow me as I continue my "au naturel" hair journey, life as a wife, and experiences as a new mommy.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Waiting Game...
So things with me are pretty good. I go home for Thanksgiving Break next week and I have been doing well with my coursework. But my hair woes still continue. Last week I finally got to see the dermatologist. I had to wait months to get an appointment; literally months - I called to make an appointment when I got to school in August, and they couldn't see me until November. I'm not sure if it's because I have crappy student health insurance, or if there is just one dermatologist in Ithaca, or a combination of the two.
Well the doctor was definitely worth the wait. She was fantastic and I immediately felt more comfortable under her care than I have previously with my doctor back in DC. To my surprise, she wanted to do a scalp biopsy. Mind you... I just put this weave in and it cost a pretty penny. To my surprise, she was hip on her weave knowledge and she promised me that she wouldn't completely destroy my masterpiece :). She cut about a 1/2 inch square of the net, so my scalp was exposed and the rest...I wasn't prepared for.
Next she whips out a needle and then asks me, "Are you good with needles?" I mean I am but I wasn't prepared for all of this! I thought she was just going to look at my scalp and go from there. So she numbs the area of my scalp and literally takes a piece of my scalp and prepares it for the lab. A hair specialist is as we speak analyzing my scalp and trying to figure out if indeed have Central Scarring Alopecia. The doctor thinks that I do and she asked me how aggressively I want to try and treat this, if this is in fact the case. I told her I am willing to try anything within reason. There are some oral medications that we may be able to try, but I am waiting to hear back from her, before I think about that.
I miss my natural poof.
I'm sorry that I don't have more to say on "natural hair" at the moment, but I hope sharing my story helps others. More to come soon.
Well the doctor was definitely worth the wait. She was fantastic and I immediately felt more comfortable under her care than I have previously with my doctor back in DC. To my surprise, she wanted to do a scalp biopsy. Mind you... I just put this weave in and it cost a pretty penny. To my surprise, she was hip on her weave knowledge and she promised me that she wouldn't completely destroy my masterpiece :). She cut about a 1/2 inch square of the net, so my scalp was exposed and the rest...I wasn't prepared for.
Next she whips out a needle and then asks me, "Are you good with needles?" I mean I am but I wasn't prepared for all of this! I thought she was just going to look at my scalp and go from there. So she numbs the area of my scalp and literally takes a piece of my scalp and prepares it for the lab. A hair specialist is as we speak analyzing my scalp and trying to figure out if indeed have Central Scarring Alopecia. The doctor thinks that I do and she asked me how aggressively I want to try and treat this, if this is in fact the case. I told her I am willing to try anything within reason. There are some oral medications that we may be able to try, but I am waiting to hear back from her, before I think about that.
I miss my natural poof.
I'm sorry that I don't have more to say on "natural hair" at the moment, but I hope sharing my story helps others. More to come soon.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Weave-a-licious
So the doctors are still trying to figure out if I truly have Alopecia or if something else is going on. In the mean time, it was getting harder and harder for me to conceal the bald/thin spots so I opted for a full weave. I used to rock weaves when I had a relaxer, but hadn't really considered getting one once I was natural, until now.
I found a salon in the DC area that specializes in weaves for women with scalp and hair issues. Marcella Ellis hair salon is located in Greenbelt, MD and was worth the money and the drive! I will definitely be going back. Her staff was gentle with my hair and put me at ease.
When I used to get weaves, I ordered my hair from Adorable Hair-Do, but I didn't have enough advance notice this time (they are located in NYC and they actually overnight the hair to you). I'm actually glad that I didn't, because the salon had virgin Indian Remy hair that I absolutely love! It is very good quality and I will be able to use it multiple times, just like the hair from Adorable.
I found a salon in the DC area that specializes in weaves for women with scalp and hair issues. Marcella Ellis hair salon is located in Greenbelt, MD and was worth the money and the drive! I will definitely be going back. Her staff was gentle with my hair and put me at ease.
When I used to get weaves, I ordered my hair from Adorable Hair-Do, but I didn't have enough advance notice this time (they are located in NYC and they actually overnight the hair to you). I'm actually glad that I didn't, because the salon had virgin Indian Remy hair that I absolutely love! It is very good quality and I will be able to use it multiple times, just like the hair from Adorable.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Happy Engagement to Me!
A few days ago, I was pleasantly surprised to find a package at my door. Turns out it was an engagement gift from NaturallyCurly.com! The box of hair goodies included (in addition to the list, I got some trial sizes of some other great stuff):
- Mizani True Textures Curl Replenish
- Mizani True Textures Moisture Stretch
- Mizani True Textures Perfect Curl
- Cutler Specialist Molding Putty
- Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Pomade (this stuffs smells AMAZING)
So first things first, I must try something! I just took a midterm today (I started writing this yesterday, so yes, I had a midterm on a SUNDAY!) so this is my treat to myself - some good old hair time.
I washed my hair with my medicated shampoo and KC Come Clean. Instead of my normal deep conditioner (Redken Butter Treat), I used the Curl Replenish moisturizing masque. My initial thought was, "Hmmm, why did I have to use half of the container for one treatment?" So after detangling with KC Knot Today, I used a mixture of Moisture Stretch and Perfect Curl to two-strand twist. Now before you ask me... yes, the ingredient list kind of sucks (for starters there is Mineral Oil in the Moisture Stretch). After I sat under the dryer for a total of an hour, my hair felt super soft.
So fast forward to this morning. I untwisted my hair and thought it felt very soft. But as I was sitting in class and touching my hair... it felt kinda greasy. Yuck. So as of right now: 1 point for Curl Replenish and 0 for Moisture Stretch. I won't pass judgement on Perfect Curl quite yet.
Regardless, my hair looks cute.
So fast forward to this morning. I untwisted my hair and thought it felt very soft. But as I was sitting in class and touching my hair... it felt kinda greasy. Yuck. So as of right now: 1 point for Curl Replenish and 0 for Moisture Stretch. I won't pass judgement on Perfect Curl quite yet.
Regardless, my hair looks cute.
Afro Glitz Web Awards 2010 Finalist
Lovelies - I am now a finalist in the "Best Hair Blog" category for the 2010 Afro Glitz Web Awards!!! I am so excited and want to thank you all for nominating me. I am working on a post about some new products I tried last night. I will post ASAP. Hugs!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Still going strong... I think
So Ithaca is treating me well, I am just busy beyond belief. And for that reason, I haven't really experimented with any new styles or products. I have been sticking to my "go to" look - the wet twist out using KCC. The summer weather has been beautiful up here - nice dry air. But summer will soon be gone and the horrid winter weather will be moving in.
I have done two henna treatments since I have been here and I hope that I can keep doing them once every few weeks. The problem is finding the time to devote to doing the treatments.
I have done two henna treatments since I have been here and I hope that I can keep doing them once every few weeks. The problem is finding the time to devote to doing the treatments.
I can't tell if I am still losing my hair due to the Alopecia. Some days I am super paranoid and think that I am, and other days I feel like it looks the same. So I am trying to keep up with my vitamins and using my ointments. Getting an appointment with a dermatologist is ridiculously hard up here (I think there is only one lol).
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
School has started + Big news!
So my blog posts will be sporadic for the next few months! The first semester of school will be no joke, but I hope to find time to update you all on my hair joys and woes.
But in huge news... I'm engaged! So now I am ever more focused on growing long, healthy hair, so I can blow it out for the wedding (and add a few tracks lol).
More to come, but I just wanted to post a quick update. Miss y'all!
But in huge news... I'm engaged! So now I am ever more focused on growing long, healthy hair, so I can blow it out for the wedding (and add a few tracks lol).
More to come, but I just wanted to post a quick update. Miss y'all!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
I did it again...
So remember that left over henna in my freezer? Well it was calling me! I had some already mixed and some that was still in the powder form. I let my frozen mix thaw (probably for about an hour or two) and then I added the rest of the henna powder I had. I brewed two green tea bags in about a cup of water and added the warm tea to my mix (probably about 1/2 cup). I had no problems mixing up the frozen with the dry.
I let the mix sit for about 30 minutes while I washed my hair. I added in about a tablespoon of honey, mixed, and applied it. After about 4 hours I rinsed it out and oh my goodness...I can see how people get hooked on henna!!! The color is fabulous, my hair is soft and my curls look so springy!
After my deep condition, I twisted my hair with KCC and Knot Today as I normally doand I am now sitting under the dryer (I usually let my hair air dry, but it takes 12+ hours and I need to catch a plane tomorrow afternoon).
I ordered some Punjabi Prime after I consulted with the folks at Mehandi.com again. I want a little more kick after day one. I will definitely post pictures of those results. Not sure if I will see any difference.
I wish that I would have discovered henna a LONG time ago!
I let the mix sit for about 30 minutes while I washed my hair. I added in about a tablespoon of honey, mixed, and applied it. After about 4 hours I rinsed it out and oh my goodness...I can see how people get hooked on henna!!! The color is fabulous, my hair is soft and my curls look so springy!
After my deep condition, I twisted my hair with KCC and Knot Today as I normally doand I am now sitting under the dryer (I usually let my hair air dry, but it takes 12+ hours and I need to catch a plane tomorrow afternoon).
I ordered some Punjabi Prime after I consulted with the folks at Mehandi.com again. I want a little more kick after day one. I will definitely post pictures of those results. Not sure if I will see any difference.
I wish that I would have discovered henna a LONG time ago!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Henna Color - Day 3
So my color has changed and it isn't as "bright" as it was when I first did it. I knew that as the henna oxidized, that it would change, but I miss the initial color. I may need to experiement with another variety of henna and just deal with the super bright color on day one. Or maybe I need to sleep in the henna and let it deposit much longer. I do like how the henna looks on my natural hair color though. It looks like I have beautiful, natural looking red highlights.
My hair still feels nice and soft and I can't wait to order some more henna, but now I just need to figure out what to order. Decisions, decisions...
Thoughts?
My hair still feels nice and soft and I can't wait to order some more henna, but now I just need to figure out what to order. Decisions, decisions...
Thoughts?
Best of the Best Video Blog!!!
Lovelies! I have great news to share. My video blog for NaturallyCurly.com is one of the "Best of the Best" for 2010! Check out the other products, blogs and video blogs included on this list as well! Thank you so much for continuing to support me. Love you all!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
My First Henna Experience
So I did it! My first henna experience went well. I have to admit that I was nervous. When I opened up the package of henna powder, smelled it and saw how green it was, I really had second thoughts. But after all the research I did, I calmed myself down and took a leap of faith! I used the Henna for African-American Hair from mehandi.com and followed the instructions provided by Curly Nikki in her instructional video. The only difference was that I mixed my henna and let it sit overnight before applying it. When I woke up the next day, my henna mixture was a rich, chocolate brown color, instead of green.
I was actually surprised that I didn't make a mess applying it and all in all the process was pretty easy, just time consuming. So make sure you plan out the process so you have plenty of time to mix the henna, apply it and let it sit in your hair, deep condition and then style. I left the henna in for about 4 hours. Next time I want to try sleeping in it to see if I get better results. Since this variety of henna is sifted very fine, rinsing the henna from my hair was also very easy. I got the majority of it out with just water and I washed 2 times with a cheap conditioner and it was all out.
My hair felt instantly thicker, softer, and the curl pattern in the back seemed more relaxed. The only complaint I have is the stinky smell. I will have to do something about that. I think that I read somewhere that I can add in a drop or two of an essential oil like lavender to the henna mix, but I could be making that up, so I need to verify that before I do it.
The red color is beautiful! It isn't too bright and the shade on my tips is wonderful. It is noticeable, but not because it is bright, but because it is really very pretty. I can't really see the red hue on my non-colored hair, but I wasn't outside too much today, so I will take a peek this week.
I will definitely be doing this again very soon. I am not sure if I want to use the same henna or try a different variety. Curly Nikki uses the Jamilla variety and the dye releases in 30 minutes instead of 12+ hours, so that would be great and I couldn't potentially do my hair all in the same day. Since I will be swamped with school, that would definitely be easier.
I also tried to create a video of my experience. I am not sure if I like how it turned out, so I may tape the second henna attempt and post that instead. I will let you know what I decide.
I was actually surprised that I didn't make a mess applying it and all in all the process was pretty easy, just time consuming. So make sure you plan out the process so you have plenty of time to mix the henna, apply it and let it sit in your hair, deep condition and then style. I left the henna in for about 4 hours. Next time I want to try sleeping in it to see if I get better results. Since this variety of henna is sifted very fine, rinsing the henna from my hair was also very easy. I got the majority of it out with just water and I washed 2 times with a cheap conditioner and it was all out.
My hair felt instantly thicker, softer, and the curl pattern in the back seemed more relaxed. The only complaint I have is the stinky smell. I will have to do something about that. I think that I read somewhere that I can add in a drop or two of an essential oil like lavender to the henna mix, but I could be making that up, so I need to verify that before I do it.
The red color is beautiful! It isn't too bright and the shade on my tips is wonderful. It is noticeable, but not because it is bright, but because it is really very pretty. I can't really see the red hue on my non-colored hair, but I wasn't outside too much today, so I will take a peek this week.
I will definitely be doing this again very soon. I am not sure if I want to use the same henna or try a different variety. Curly Nikki uses the Jamilla variety and the dye releases in 30 minutes instead of 12+ hours, so that would be great and I couldn't potentially do my hair all in the same day. Since I will be swamped with school, that would definitely be easier.
I also tried to create a video of my experience. I am not sure if I like how it turned out, so I may tape the second henna attempt and post that instead. I will let you know what I decide.
Monday, July 12, 2010
My henna arrived + cleanse update
Happy Monday!
It is here! Not only is the customer service at Mehandi.com fantastic, they also ship very quickly. I placed my order on Wednesday, July 7 and the shipment arrived today! What a great way to start a Monday. Guess it doesn't hurt that my last day of work is Friday *hee hee*.
Anyways, the plan is to start prepping for my first henna experience by making sure that I have all the necessary supplies (i.e. gloves, honey, green tea, plastic cap, cheap conditioner, etc.) and either do my hair on Sunday or early next week. I need to devote at least half of the day to this process, maybe longer since this is my first time. I wish I could do my hair sooner, but it will have to wait.
So for my cleane update. So I stuck to the fruit and veggie cleanse plan for about 4.5 days and then I went out of town. I admit that I feel off... my body was not happy with me at all. I am still getting plenty of fruits and veggies, but I haven't been 100% fruits and veggies today. We will see what tomorrow brings.
It is here! Not only is the customer service at Mehandi.com fantastic, they also ship very quickly. I placed my order on Wednesday, July 7 and the shipment arrived today! What a great way to start a Monday. Guess it doesn't hurt that my last day of work is Friday *hee hee*.
Anyways, the plan is to start prepping for my first henna experience by making sure that I have all the necessary supplies (i.e. gloves, honey, green tea, plastic cap, cheap conditioner, etc.) and either do my hair on Sunday or early next week. I need to devote at least half of the day to this process, maybe longer since this is my first time. I wish I could do my hair sooner, but it will have to wait.
So for my cleane update. So I stuck to the fruit and veggie cleanse plan for about 4.5 days and then I went out of town. I admit that I feel off... my body was not happy with me at all. I am still getting plenty of fruits and veggies, but I haven't been 100% fruits and veggies today. We will see what tomorrow brings.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Fruit + Veggie Cleanse: Day 3 + Summary of Day 2
So let me start with a summary of yesterday (day 2 of the cleanse). I had a mint fruit salad again for breakfast and my vegetable soup for lunch. Around 3 p.m., I started to feel a little strange. I wasn't quite light headed but my body just felt "off". I decided to drink a glass of Bolthouse Farm's Green Goodness smoothie and I felt a little better. Around 5 p.m., my stomach was making all types of noises - not like it was hungry, but more like something was going on... if you catch my drift.
When I got home, I made fresh guacamole and ate that with fresh, raw tomatoes and yellow peppers, as well as baked potato discs (no oil and just a little salt and pepper, baked at 400 degrees). Let me tell you, that meal was delicious and totally filled me up! Later that night, my body was so sore, like I had worked out. Not sure what that was about.
So this morning, I woke up starving! I thought that I would try to a smoothie instead of a fruit salad. One of the recent Bon Appetit issues (think it was May or June) had great recipes for smoothies. I tried the Strawberry-Watermelon Smoothie with Ginger and it was AMAZING! Here is the recipe, courtesy of Bon Appetit:
Combine 3 cups 1-inch cubes seeded watermelon, 2 cups frozen quartered hulled strawberries, 1.5 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger, and 1.5 teaspoons fresh lime juice in a blender; process until smooth. 2 servings. Per serving: calories, 124; fat, 0; fiber, 4 g.
So, with that said, I am doing okay. I miss eating more of a variety of food, but other than that, I feel great!
When I got home, I made fresh guacamole and ate that with fresh, raw tomatoes and yellow peppers, as well as baked potato discs (no oil and just a little salt and pepper, baked at 400 degrees). Let me tell you, that meal was delicious and totally filled me up! Later that night, my body was so sore, like I had worked out. Not sure what that was about.
So this morning, I woke up starving! I thought that I would try to a smoothie instead of a fruit salad. One of the recent Bon Appetit issues (think it was May or June) had great recipes for smoothies. I tried the Strawberry-Watermelon Smoothie with Ginger and it was AMAZING! Here is the recipe, courtesy of Bon Appetit:
Combine 3 cups 1-inch cubes seeded watermelon, 2 cups frozen quartered hulled strawberries, 1.5 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger, and 1.5 teaspoons fresh lime juice in a blender; process until smooth. 2 servings. Per serving: calories, 124; fat, 0; fiber, 4 g.
So, with that said, I am doing okay. I miss eating more of a variety of food, but other than that, I feel great!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Jamila, Henna for African-American Hair, or Punjabi Prime
Today, I sent an email to Mehandi's customer service and as expected, they were prompt and just as helpful and informative as the website! I wanted to share the emails with you all because I think it will help you potentially make a decision about which type of henna you might try.
My initial email:
Subject: Jamila, Henna for African-American Hair, or Punjabi Prime
Hello -
I am completely natural and this is my first time using henna. I still have a brownish color on the ends of my hair. I don't want a very bright red color so would you recommend Jamila, the henna for African-American Hair, or Punjabi Prime? I read that naturals love all three!
My initial email:
Subject: Jamila, Henna for African-American Hair, or Punjabi Prime
Hello -
I am completely natural and this is my first time using henna. I still have a brownish color on the ends of my hair. I don't want a very bright red color so would you recommend Jamila, the henna for African-American Hair, or Punjabi Prime? I read that naturals love all three!
I can't decide!
Thanks so much!
Elisa
First response:
Great question Elisa,
Punjabi prime tends to be brighter, and Jamila varies a bit from one box
to the next. I would go with the Henna for African Hair. Its consistently
a nice and not-to-bright color. You'll love it!
Punjabi prime tends to be brighter, and Jamila varies a bit from one box
to the next. I would go with the Henna for African Hair. Its consistently
a nice and not-to-bright color. You'll love it!
Second response:
I see that ***** answered you, but I will also chime in to add that, with your dark hair, you won't get bright red in any case! Pure henna is like wood stain - it's adds a translucent stain over the base color. Over dark brown hair, you'll get a beautiful auburn/mahogany!
So with that said, I am going to order the henna for African-American hair. I want to take "baby steps" before I try Jamila or Punjabi Prime.
Also I talked to my manager at work who is from India and she gave me some advice. She advised me to stay away from mixing henna with lemon. She highly recommends using honey and green tea. She told me that I am giving her the itch to use henna again!
Exploring Henna
Afrobella posted about henna yesterday and Curly Nikki has a whole section on her site dedicated to her experience and love for henna! Ever since my alopecia discovery, I wanted to give my hair a rest from the chemical dyes, so I stopped coloring my hair. I thought I wouldn't miss having some type of color in my hair, but I was wrong (I should have known better).
So my longing for color led me to research and think more seriously about henna for quite some time now. I think that I am going to try this out once I am officially unemployed on July 19 (doing the happy dance), just in case my hair looks crazy. Curly Nikki's site is extremely informative and the comments from her readers are great as well. It looks like most naturals love the henna from Mehandi. They sell 100% pure henna and also have a very informative yet hard to navigate site (muddling your way through the site is worth it). The free e-book is an amazing wealth of knowledge; I am still reading through it.
In terms of which henna to use, I am trying to decide between the Jamila, Ancient Sunrise Henna for African-American Hair, and Punjabi Prime (PP) varieties. Since half of my hair is a medium/reddish brown, my fear is that I'm going to end up looking like a strawberry, so I THINK that I am leaning towards the henna specifically for African-American hair because it produces amber tones. But I have heard great things and seen beautiful pictures of results from Jamila and PP. Le sigh.
Besides the color, henna seems to do wonderful things to your hair! People report that their is stronger, thicker, shinier, and at times the curl pattern is slightly relaxed (this is not permanent). I am most excited about thickening up and relaxing my curl patter. I will definitely blog about my experience in depth and maybe do a few videos. Oh and don't forget, my videos for NaturallyCurly.com are up on YouTube (search by my name: Elisa Dobbins).
I was surprised to find out that some people henna several times a week. Being that it is such a lengthy process, I can't imagine doing it that much. But it sounds like people get hooked. The more you do it, the more you hair benefits from the henna.
If you are a henna honey, please let me know which henna you prefer and I would love to see pictures!
So my longing for color led me to research and think more seriously about henna for quite some time now. I think that I am going to try this out once I am officially unemployed on July 19 (doing the happy dance), just in case my hair looks crazy. Curly Nikki's site is extremely informative and the comments from her readers are great as well. It looks like most naturals love the henna from Mehandi. They sell 100% pure henna and also have a very informative yet hard to navigate site (muddling your way through the site is worth it). The free e-book is an amazing wealth of knowledge; I am still reading through it.
In terms of which henna to use, I am trying to decide between the Jamila, Ancient Sunrise Henna for African-American Hair, and Punjabi Prime (PP) varieties. Since half of my hair is a medium/reddish brown, my fear is that I'm going to end up looking like a strawberry, so I THINK that I am leaning towards the henna specifically for African-American hair because it produces amber tones. But I have heard great things and seen beautiful pictures of results from Jamila and PP. Le sigh.
Besides the color, henna seems to do wonderful things to your hair! People report that their is stronger, thicker, shinier, and at times the curl pattern is slightly relaxed (this is not permanent). I am most excited about thickening up and relaxing my curl patter. I will definitely blog about my experience in depth and maybe do a few videos. Oh and don't forget, my videos for NaturallyCurly.com are up on YouTube (search by my name: Elisa Dobbins).
I was surprised to find out that some people henna several times a week. Being that it is such a lengthy process, I can't imagine doing it that much. But it sounds like people get hooked. The more you do it, the more you hair benefits from the henna.
If you are a henna honey, please let me know which henna you prefer and I would love to see pictures!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
I'm an Afro Glitz Web Award Nominee!
Lovelies - I am an Afro Glitz Web Award nominee for "Best Hair Blog"!!! There are some other really great hair blogs that are nominated as well, so the catch is that the category must be narrowed down to 6. Please vote for me if you enjoy the content and what I'm doing. I truly appreciate the love and support!!!
10 Day Veggie + Fruit Cleanse
I have been a busy bee preparing for my move to Ithaca and my last day at work (YAY - 10 days and counting)! In the meantime, I am doing a 10 day veggie and fruit cleanse with my boyfriend's cousin. She suggested that this would be a good time for me to cleanse my system and get ready for the next big step in my life - business school. So I already don't eat meat (yes - I do cheat every once in a while), so I am hoping this won't be too bad, but I will miss carbs (oh how I love carbs)! I'm sure my hips won't miss them!
This morning I had a great mint fruit salad full of watermelon, pineapple and grapes and I am pretty full. For lunch, I made my favorite soup - Vegetarian Ribollita, but without the sourdough bread, cannellini beans and Pecorino-Romano cheese. So basically it is a hardy cabbage soup. For dinner, I am going to have some yukon gold potatoes and steamed veggies and maybe a strawberry watermelon smoothie if i get hungry after that.
I'm curious to see if this will have any effect on my hair. Granted it is only 10 days, but I am still wondering if I will notice any kind of change in how my hair looks and feels.
My hair is still growing very fast which is great because I hope to be able to cut out the rest of the color at the end of this year. I am still adding coconut oil to my deep conditioner and my hair is loving it.
**Let me clarify. Yes potatoes are carbs, but they can be used in moderation in the plan that I am following. You are only supposed to resort to eating potatoes or other root veggies after you have eaten steamed or raw veggies and are still hungry. I know me and I will be hungry tonight, so I will be having some potatoes lol.***
This morning I had a great mint fruit salad full of watermelon, pineapple and grapes and I am pretty full. For lunch, I made my favorite soup - Vegetarian Ribollita, but without the sourdough bread, cannellini beans and Pecorino-Romano cheese. So basically it is a hardy cabbage soup. For dinner, I am going to have some yukon gold potatoes and steamed veggies and maybe a strawberry watermelon smoothie if i get hungry after that.
I'm curious to see if this will have any effect on my hair. Granted it is only 10 days, but I am still wondering if I will notice any kind of change in how my hair looks and feels.
My hair is still growing very fast which is great because I hope to be able to cut out the rest of the color at the end of this year. I am still adding coconut oil to my deep conditioner and my hair is loving it.
**Let me clarify. Yes potatoes are carbs, but they can be used in moderation in the plan that I am following. You are only supposed to resort to eating potatoes or other root veggies after you have eaten steamed or raw veggies and are still hungry. I know me and I will be hungry tonight, so I will be having some potatoes lol.***
Monday, June 7, 2010
J'adore l'huile de noix de coco!
Translation - I love coconut oil! So I am trying to brush up on my French as I want to study abroad during my last semester at school (Spring 2012).
I digress - so I wrote an article for The Coil Review about organic, extra virgin coconut oil, so I have been experimenting with it in food preparation (makes great scrambled eggs) as well as in my hair. Here are the ways I have used it for my hair thus far.
1. Pre-shower moisturizer - I've read that coconut oil is the only oil that your hair will absorb. Not sure if that's 100% true (meaning I'm not sure if there are other oils out there that will do the same). So before my shower I put a quarter-sized amount through my hair and took a steamy shower. My hair felt super soft after.
2. Deep conditioner - Last night I added coconut oil to the Redken Butter Treat conditioner I use. I put a plastic cap on and sat under the dryer for 25 minutes. I rinsed it out and then soaked my hair with KC Knot Today and detangled. I decided to do a dry twist out. Let me tell you. Blowing drying my hair (on the warm setting) was a dream. My hair was and still is amazingly soft!
I digress - so I wrote an article for The Coil Review about organic, extra virgin coconut oil, so I have been experimenting with it in food preparation (makes great scrambled eggs) as well as in my hair. Here are the ways I have used it for my hair thus far.
1. Pre-shower moisturizer - I've read that coconut oil is the only oil that your hair will absorb. Not sure if that's 100% true (meaning I'm not sure if there are other oils out there that will do the same). So before my shower I put a quarter-sized amount through my hair and took a steamy shower. My hair felt super soft after.
2. Deep conditioner - Last night I added coconut oil to the Redken Butter Treat conditioner I use. I put a plastic cap on and sat under the dryer for 25 minutes. I rinsed it out and then soaked my hair with KC Knot Today and detangled. I decided to do a dry twist out. Let me tell you. Blowing drying my hair (on the warm setting) was a dream. My hair was and still is amazingly soft!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Bantu Knot-Outs aren't just for long hair beauties!
I've been intrigued by bantu knots for a while now, but never thought I could achieve a cute look due to my length. So last night I was watching TV and decided to try something new. Starting with dry hair (I washed my hair and styled with Knot Today and KCC on Sunday), I lightly sprayed my hair with a water/aloe vera oil spritz and proceeded to make little bantu knots all over my head. I secured the ends with bobby pins and went to sleep.
I woke up this morning with a cute, curly fro! I will have to try this on wet hair and make a video about it.
I woke up this morning with a cute, curly fro! I will have to try this on wet hair and make a video about it.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Chocolate Coils + Dermatologist Visit
Since I got more of a cut, rather than a trim last weekend, I was nervous to wash my hair and wear it curly, but I was too excited to care. In my last post, I mentioned my current issue with central scarring alopecia. Well I am happy to report that while I was combing my deep conditioner through my hair last night, I literally only lost a few strands of hair. Months ago, I was losing clumps of hair, and was honestly scared to wash my hair, let alone come through it. I attribute the minimized hair loss keeping the faith, the regimen and scalp injections my dermatologist prescribed, and the great trim I got last week.
I had an appointment with my dermatologist this morning. Nothing good or bad to report. I received 7 more Kenalog scalp injections. I am scheduled to go back in June for another round.
My hair is definitely shorter, but my curl pattern is much more defined since I lost the raggedy ends and I love my new rich, chocolate brown color. The first picture shows the length in the back; you can definitely tell it's shorter. And hopefully in the second picture you can see the curl definition some. I am still using the Kinky Curly product line and don't plan on straying from my current routine.
Monday, April 26, 2010
This is why I can't keep my hair straight...
So after paying a pretty penny to get my hair blown out + trimmed + colored, I find out that it is supposed to rain for the next few days (I usually check the weather before I make an appointment, but I was so excited that I forgot this time around). FML. I woke up this morning determined to get to work not looking like a poof ball, so I did something that I probably shouldn't have done. I went to work in my pink and green scarf with my hair wrapped underneath *gasp*. So I made it through my bus and metro ride without seeing someone I know. But I get into the elevator and of course there is someone from upper management riding up with me... oh well.
I was willing to look a hot mess if it meant saving my hair and best believe that I will be putting my scarf right back on my head when I leave to go home!
I did a damn good job though. My hair still looks fresh!
I was willing to look a hot mess if it meant saving my hair and best believe that I will be putting my scarf right back on my head when I leave to go home!
I did a damn good job though. My hair still looks fresh!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Time for a blog update!
So even though I am working on a new site, I couldn't resist the temptation to update my blog now! It was time for a change. Big changes are still ahead!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Central Cicatricial Alopecia
On February 22, I was diagnosed with central cicatricial alopecia. This type of alopecia is also known as scarring alopecia because inflammation destroys the hair follicle causing a “scarring” below the scalp’s surface. "Central" refers to the area in which the alopecia starts (the center top of the head) and the fact that the alopecia spreads out. At first, I was devastated – I cried for days. The dermatologist said that the likelihood of my hair growing back was slim but that she would do her best to stop the hair loss from spreading. So my doctor immediately started me on rigorous regimen of creams (some twice a day) and scalp shots (every six weeks).
I waited a while to share this because I was still coping with the news. But now I am in attack mode! :). I think the hair loss has stopped (for the time being) but I am prayerful that my hair will grow back in the affected areas.
So part of the reason I wanted a darker hair color, was to help my hair to look thicker (because of all the hair I lost at the top/front of my head) and to just give my hair that healthy look that darker hair usually has. And as I would like to eventually go back to my natural hair color, so dying my hair darker will allow me to grow out my color without the extreme differences in color.
So today, I went to see Nicole and we talked about my situation. She agreed that going with a darker, richer color would be a good idea and a great change. She used a demi-permanent chocolate color and I am beyond happy with the results. She trimmed a LOT of my hair but it looks so healthy and I feel like I have a new head of hair. Wearing my hair straight is a challenge because I have to hide the thin top section, so I am still not completely comfortable wearing my hair blown out. I will be sure to keep everyone updated on the situation.
I waited a while to share this because I was still coping with the news. But now I am in attack mode! :). I think the hair loss has stopped (for the time being) but I am prayerful that my hair will grow back in the affected areas.
So part of the reason I wanted a darker hair color, was to help my hair to look thicker (because of all the hair I lost at the top/front of my head) and to just give my hair that healthy look that darker hair usually has. And as I would like to eventually go back to my natural hair color, so dying my hair darker will allow me to grow out my color without the extreme differences in color.
So today, I went to see Nicole and we talked about my situation. She agreed that going with a darker, richer color would be a good idea and a great change. She used a demi-permanent chocolate color and I am beyond happy with the results. She trimmed a LOT of my hair but it looks so healthy and I feel like I have a new head of hair. Wearing my hair straight is a challenge because I have to hide the thin top section, so I am still not completely comfortable wearing my hair blown out. I will be sure to keep everyone updated on the situation.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Time for Change
Hi Lovelies. So a lot has happened since I last updated my blog (sorry for the long overdue post). I decided where I am going to business school (Go Big Red!), I started packing and am moving in with granny for a few months before the BIG move, and of course I am itching to change my hair.
I made an appointment with Nicole to get a much needed trim (hopefully it doesn't turn into a cut) and a deeper, richer color. I really want to go with a deep, rich chocolate color. Not sure if Nicole will opt for a rinse or a permanent color. I really just want something that I can easily and cheaply maintain on a student budget for the next two years.
Also I did my hair this weekend and I am not liking the way it feels. I think that I'm going to wash it tonight and try a throwback hair style - dry twist out. I will post the results!
Updated: So once I got home from work, I realized that I already packed my blow dryer. Soooo with that said, I got really lazy and opted to do absolutely nothing with my hair. I will post my results from my appointment with Nicole!
I made an appointment with Nicole to get a much needed trim (hopefully it doesn't turn into a cut) and a deeper, richer color. I really want to go with a deep, rich chocolate color. Not sure if Nicole will opt for a rinse or a permanent color. I really just want something that I can easily and cheaply maintain on a student budget for the next two years.
Also I did my hair this weekend and I am not liking the way it feels. I think that I'm going to wash it tonight and try a throwback hair style - dry twist out. I will post the results!
Updated: So once I got home from work, I realized that I already packed my blow dryer. Soooo with that said, I got really lazy and opted to do absolutely nothing with my hair. I will post my results from my appointment with Nicole!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Kinky 4a/b girls listen up + My 2 year natural-versary!
I am speaking straight to the kinky, 4a/b lovelies out there!
While wash and go looks aren't necessarily a reality for us, we can still take advantage of quick, gorgeous styles! If you haven't already, please try the style I talked about in one of my last posts. I have managed to shave off an hour of time from my previous wash day routines. If you aren't a fan of KCC, give it another try and use a TON of Knot Today before you apply any of the KCC (funny story - I went to pick up the 2 bottles of Knot Today I special ordered from Whole Foods. When I got there, there was another woman cleaning the KC product line out! She was so excited. She said that she calls all the time to find out when the shipments come in. People really love the products. They are really amazing and all natural. You can't beat that!)
Is detangling is tough? I used to use conditioner to detangle my hair, but once I discovered Knot Today, my life changed (dramatic? indeed). I use a TON of it and the comb literally glides through my hair. It is worth every penny.
I am now 2 years into being natural (I totally missed my natural anniversary lol) and I am finally comfortable and really loving my hair. I used to be upset that I didn't have looser curls, but God gave me my texture and I love it! Please embrace and work what you got!
Hugs!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Woah! Miss Jessie's at Target!?!?!
Hello Miss Jessie's lovers! Seems like their product line is hitting select Target locations on March 28. This is huge and I am so happy for them!
To check to see if your local Target will carry their product line, click here.
To check to see if your local Target will carry their product line, click here.
Friday, March 19, 2010
It is 70 degrees and my hair is BIG!
It's beautiful outside and it's days like this that make me want to rock a big, curly fro. As the months go on, I am getting lazier when it comes to doing my hair. Last night I wanted to see if I could wash, condition, and style my hair in under an hour... and I did it! Using only Kinky-Curly (KC) products, I washed my hair and applied Knot Today. Then I created big twists using KCC and rolled them on flexi rods. I let my hair dry overnight and untwisted/pulled through each twist this morning. The result - a big ol' curly fro. I LOVE IT!!!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
KCC is now a staple product!
So the go-to style of the moment is the wet flexi rod set, mainly because it lasts a long time which is perfect since I have been busy/lazy. I tried the style again using KCC as my "setting lotion" instead of the KC Spiral Spritz. At first, I wasn't too happy because the curls were hard, but as the week went on, my hair stayed super soft and got really big! KCC loves moisture and since the area got a lot of rain, that mixed with the humidity/mist really made my hair extremely soft.
My love for big hair is no secret and I have pretty much done nothing to my hair since I set it over a week ago.
I can't stop playing with my hair. I should probably wash it this week. I just hope that I can achieve the same look and softness. I am really hoping that this isn't a fluke!
I am going to keep playing around with the KCC line of products to see how I can utilize them for different looks.
My love for big hair is no secret and I have pretty much done nothing to my hair since I set it over a week ago.
I can't stop playing with my hair. I should probably wash it this week. I just hope that I can achieve the same look and softness. I am really hoping that this isn't a fluke!
I am going to keep playing around with the KCC line of products to see how I can utilize them for different looks.
Monday, March 8, 2010
New Style Alert!
So I was browsing the internet a few days ago, bored and looking up things about hair, and I came across Tracie Mae on YouTube. Not only is she hilarious, but she also inspired me to try a style that I have been meaning to do for a while now - a flexi rod set on wet/damp hair. I also tried Tracie Mae's "budget curly pudding" (as she calls it) recipe:
1 oz. oil (I used 100% aloe vera oil)
4 oz. unrefinded shea butter
8 oz. IC Fantasia Gel.
So here is how I did it:
1 oz. oil (I used 100% aloe vera oil)
4 oz. unrefinded shea butter
8 oz. IC Fantasia Gel.
So here is how I did it:
- Shampoo, (deep) condition, and detangle, as you normally would.
- Lightly blow your hair dry. I really only did it for a minute or so, just to get the initial dampness out. (Note: I just redid my hair today and I left my hair wet, I like it better this way. I kept my hair wet using a mixture of water and aloe vera oil).
- Take medium sized pieces and apply the "budget curly pudding" mixture to each piece, and set on blue flexi rods. (Note: Today I used KC Spiral Spritz).
- Sit under the dryer for at least an hour.
- Take out the flexi rods and style any way you like!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
KCC Day 4
I am on a roll! Day 4 and my hair still looks okay. My goal is to make this last one more day and I'll do my hair again tomorrow night. My hope is to dry it completely under the dryer before I go to bed and just touch it up on Friday morning before I catch my early flight!
Today I actually wet my hair in the shower. I didn't completely drench it, but I did let it get pretty wet. I used my diffuser to get most of the wetness out and I'm letting it air dry the rest of the day. Let's hope that I can get one more day out of this look!
Today I actually wet my hair in the shower. I didn't completely drench it, but I did let it get pretty wet. I used my diffuser to get most of the wetness out and I'm letting it air dry the rest of the day. Let's hope that I can get one more day out of this look!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
KCC Day 3
Okay so today I went through the same morning routine. I wet my hair with plain water and used a little of the KC Spiral Spritz and then I pulled my hair back with a hair band. My curls are still super defined and I actually like it better than yesterday.
I may be able to pull this look off a few more days! I will definitely keep you all updated!
I may be able to pull this look off a few more days! I will definitely keep you all updated!
Monday, March 1, 2010
KCC Day 2
So I woke up this morning with helmet hair - not cute! I used a combination of the KC Spiral Spritz and plain water in my spray bottle to refresh the look. It doesn't look as good as it did yesterday, but it looks okay. Don't know if this look will survive another night. Ugh. I might need to give myself an extra hour in the morning to do my hair all over again before work tomorrow... is it really worth it? What a pain!
Has anyone successfully made this style last longer than 2 days?
Has anyone successfully made this style last longer than 2 days?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Kinky-Curly Custard... I can't leave this stuff alone!
So my first attempt with KCC (Kinky-Curly Custard) was a disaster, my second much better, and now my third... even better. I am sick of twisting my hair and I am dying for a wash-and-go look that is feasible for a 4a/b curly girl! So I got great results without the stickiness and/or white residue that most people complain about. Here are my step by step instructions:
1. Shampoo once with your regular shampoo. Rinse.
2. Shampoo once with KC (Kinky-Curly) Come Clean shampoo. Rinse.
3. Soak your hair with KC Knot Today (still in the shower) and detangled with a wide tooth comb. Do not rinse and leave the conditioner in.
4. While your hair is pretty wet, but not dripping, start in the back, taking small sections, coating each with KCC. Comb through each section and leave it alone! Repeat all over your head. Note: Keep a spray bottle of water handy and rewet any sections that begin to dry. Your hair must be wet in order for this to work.
5. Use a diffuser to dry your hair if you don't have time to let it air dry.
Don't give up on the style until you hair is completely dry. Then you can shake your hair and fluff it a little bit. I have to admit, I was getting pretty disappointed, but I am much happier now that my hair is dry. My goal is to wash my hair and go through this process twice a week. The days that I don't totally do my hair, I am going to use the KC Spiral Spritz and water to revive my curls.
1. Shampoo once with your regular shampoo. Rinse.
2. Shampoo once with KC (Kinky-Curly) Come Clean shampoo. Rinse.
3. Soak your hair with KC Knot Today (still in the shower) and detangled with a wide tooth comb. Do not rinse and leave the conditioner in.
4. While your hair is pretty wet, but not dripping, start in the back, taking small sections, coating each with KCC. Comb through each section and leave it alone! Repeat all over your head. Note: Keep a spray bottle of water handy and rewet any sections that begin to dry. Your hair must be wet in order for this to work.
5. Use a diffuser to dry your hair if you don't have time to let it air dry.
Don't give up on the style until you hair is completely dry. Then you can shake your hair and fluff it a little bit. I have to admit, I was getting pretty disappointed, but I am much happier now that my hair is dry. My goal is to wash my hair and go through this process twice a week. The days that I don't totally do my hair, I am going to use the KC Spiral Spritz and water to revive my curls.
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