I've Got a Natural Hair Consultant? Wow.

Because I'm the "worst blogger ever", this post is about two weeks after the initial happening...

If you haven't heard of Nia Phoenix, it's time you did.  She's a natural living blogger who's really dedicated to doing the research and posting pictures.  One day may I be like her.  In the meantime, I'll be satisfied with just being her friend.

Two weeks ago, she contacted me about becoming my natural hair consultant.  For her it's about getting hands on experience with locs - hopefully she'll do them sometime.  The styles she does on loose natural hair are so cute.  But, I digress.  For me it about..I'm not sure.  Well, at least one bonus is it will give me something to post about.

When we met up for the consultation, she inquired about the state of my hair - length, porosity (how well it retains moisture - or at least that seems to be the meaning), current regimen, scalp issues.  Then she asked about my goals.  Honestly, my only real one is boob-length hair, but she managed to come up with more based on what my hair is looking like at this point.

For the next six weeks (or four from the date of this post) we're working on two goals - getting my hair to grow at those thin spots and getting my locs not just my scalp to retain moisture.  So far the moisture one has been the easiest to work on.  Nia has recommended that I steam my hair or use a moisturizing product (not just oil) every day and follow that the oiling (or sealing) the locs to retain the mositure. For the record, that really takes a lot of effort.  Steaming is easy since I no longer use a shower cap, but rubbing down my locs every day does take a bit out of me.  It's not that I have super long locs, I just have other things to do in the morning.  Since starting, I've only missed on day - yay me! I do notice a difference.  It makes me want to whip up some daily moisturizer - I've just been using coconut oil for now.  [On a side note, since the first batch, I haven't been able to recreate that perfect balance I experienced and it really pisses me off.]  This week I'm going to try castor oil, not the Jamaican Black one though since my scalp was not pleased with it.  We'll see how that goes.

For my thinning edges, I've been using a rosemary and olive oil blend.  This I do at night.  I've only been doing this a week now so no results that I've noticed yet.  Here are some before pictures:

Gosh that looks dry.

Thinning edges? Give these a try

Many thanks to Nia Phoenix for helping me with my thinning edges.  Here are some recipes she shared with me which I now share with you:

Rosemary Oil

Rosemary herb in olive oil massaged into scalp. Use olive oil based on head size. Approx 2 tbsp and a piece of rosemary herb. Allow it to mix well before applying.

This is what I'm using at the moment.  I used rosemary essential oil since I already had some.

Bayberry Tea

Make a strong bayberry tea and rub it in well at night. Wash off in the morning thoroughly and apply again, possibly add a few drops of lavender oil.

I haven't been about to find this in stores and online it's about $15 so this recipe is on hold for now.

Pre-Wash

1 tbsp jojoba oil, 3 drops rosemary oil,3 drops lavender oil, 1 drop lemon balm and 1 drop atlas cedar wood oil. Mix with wooden or plastic utensil not aluminum. Massage mix into scalp, leave on for 30 minutes. Wash hair, adding 1 drop of rosemary oil to each shampoo application. As a final rinse, add 1 drop each of lavender oil and rosemary oil to a quart of cool water and pour over your head.

I don't have any lemon balm at the moment, but this will get a try eventually.  Hopefully.

If you try one, let me know how it worked for you.

Mature? I think so

Over last week or so, I've felt a new love for my locs.  They just seem so mature now. Yay!!!

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New Color

Yesterday I went back to Natural Vybz to use my LivingSocial deal and get a color.  What do you think?

Before they started

Sectioned hair

Three layers of color.

Do you see the patch around my hairline that didn't get any color?

Yeah, I know that's a lot of pictures.

When I went for my consultation, we settled on three colors - copper, red, and purple. That's how it's layered on my head.  Shanna, the colorist, said that over time the copper will lighten, but how light it will go varies.  I guess we'll see what happens.  Oh yeah, remember the $35 I had to pay for the consultation?  That was a deposit towards to actual service. Awesome!  The total price for the three colors was $65. They used CHI brand in case you were wondering.

I feel like this post doesn't flow great, but at least I got the important information out.

Oh.  Another thing.  Shanna recommended deep conditioning since my hair is colored.  That works out because Loc'd Life did a post recently on conditioning.  Time to re-read it.

Well Hello Stranger

Most natural black women don't like their hair to be touched.  I am no exception.  Mainly because you don't know me that well and I don't understand why you feel the need.  I did grant an exception to this allowance while in Mexico.  On a tour of some Mayan ruins, an Indian woman was quite captivated by my hair and asked to touch it.  I think it was her genuine curiosity, lack of English, and the chance for a photo which made me give in:

I'm not sure which was more intriguing to her, the texture of my hair or the color.  An Indian colleague of mine told me that in India the hair color I was currently rocking was achieved using a plant (not henna) and he wanted to know how I did mine.  I felt honored to be this woman's first exposure to locs and hoped it was a good one for her.