♥ Kendra
Hello All!
Soo.... you might call me a PJ {product junkie} but I'm a recovering addict. I'm pretty satisfied with my arsenal of products and don't intend to change it much {famous last words, I know....}.
PRODUCTS/REGIMEN:
As for cleansing - I use Aztec Secret Bentonite Clay {can be purchased at Central Market, Whole Foods, Amazon.com) instead of having to pay those crazy shipping costs from Terressentials again. I just mix it with the Aloe Vera juice above to a consistency that I like {plus you can add your own essentials oils} and apply it to the hair. LADIES- This stuff is great as a facial mask too! Soooo, if you Really wanna complete The Swamp Woman look, put the excess on your face like I do. It's really awesome! But yes, I use the clay like once a month.
Protein - every once in a while, I'll use the Aphogee protein treatment following the directions on the bottle.
Moisture, Moisture, Moisture. Essential to our hair! Shea Moisture Moisture Mist is a good spray leave-in. Also, I mix some Aloe Vera Juice with distilled water as a homemade spray. I learned that I pretty much Hate anything with glycerin in it. Humectants are NOT my friends. I live in a humid place so I don't care to attract more water to my hair than whatever is already in the air. THAT SAID, I'm Loving our current dry, winter air!! So I said all that to say that I now only use Shea Moisture Curl and Style Milk as a cream moisturizer due it's great smell, lack of glycerin and wonderful moisturizing properties.
Gels- My main gel is the ORS Lock and Twist Gel (no glycerin!). I have a tub of Ecostyler that I'm trying to finish up before it becomes humid again in the summer! That little jar is the Curls Passion Fruit Curl pomade.... good for laying down edges.
And every once in a while, I use and love Jane Carter Wrap and Roll Mousse. All natural ingredients, dries quickly and nice soft hold.
Oils! Okay, my main oil is coconut. Avocado is a good heavy oil. Jojoba and the Shea Moisture blend are good light oils. And grapeseed is also another good light oil that I use when heat styling.
I take GNC Ultra Nourish Hair because I figure it's good to get any nutrients that I'm lacking. I'm assuming it helps my hair but I Know it makes my nails like talons! Drink plenty of water with this, especially when you first use it because it detoxes your body. I aim for 64 oz a day.
Rollers. Ahhh rollers. You guys, I love rollers! For someone who is Not a hair styling expert, rollers are like a Godsend! Flexirods are my main ones. I twist my hair and then use it to curl. Occasionally I'll use the green magnetic rollers for a straighter style.
For even more straightness, flat iron to the rescue! I do this maybe 4 times a year. Not really a fan of straight hair and the hassle of trying to maintain it so it doesn't revert. I cowash with Yes To Carrots {since they changed the formula and added dimethicone. Booooo! I don't use cones in normal styling} and/or Aussie Moist {which has many cones that protect hair from heat}.
I'll then moisture with some Curl and Style Milk. Then spray it down with that Aussie Heat Protection spray. Then use some of the Bed Head stuff and the Proclaim serum. Also, can't forget the grapeseed oil. I go overboard, I know, but I don't want any damage!
GOALS: Well, I've found that I'm better off by not setting specific goals for my hair. I like to read a lot of articles about how women take care of their hair, how long they've been natural, etc. Sometimes I'll read things like, "I big chopped and now a year later, my hair is down my back!" Yes, I'm exaggerating a bit {and I'm totally not for big/little/any chopping} but stuff like this can be discouraging to read! So I got the revelation that A) everyone has different growth rates and B) everyone has different heights! I don't hear much about B. so I'll address it here! I'm tall {5'9"} so due to my longer limbs, it will take longer for me to get to mid-back length than a more petite person. That's just the way it is! So as far as goals, I noticed that I always love to see the fullness of someone's hair when they reach the 4 year or more mark so I can't wait to get there. Currently I'm about 5 months shy of my 3 year anniversary.
Also, I think that I need to spritz my hair more often during the week with leave-in spray or aloe vera juice mixed with water.
PICS: Let's briefly go back to 2006, shall we? I was getting ready to go to CA for the first time and was trying to document how I was going to have my hair one day {remember, I am NOT a hair stylist! These things take a lot thought for me!} UGH, I CRINGE when I look at those pics. I remember the struggle, the shame, the feeling of unfairness. Here's a couple of those:
I mean, I still have to work with the thinness of my hair now but this was baaaaaaaaaaad. Also, people would compliment my "brown highlights" sometimes. Those weren't highlights. That's called: relaxers stripping your hair of its natural color.
Sitting around waiting to go site-see in San Antonio / March 2008
Jumping to 2010, about a month after my last relaxer ever, yayyyyy!
December of 2010- transitioning....
January 2012
June 2012
January 2013
THOUGHTS: In Pentecost, there's such an emphasis on being real. We don't wear makeup because we want to show the real us yet chemically changing the structure of our hair to "make it more manageable" is acceptable. Sorry, but I see contradiction written all over that. I realized this when I was getting my hair relaxed but I chose to ignore. I totally get that when one is told all of their life that they "need perms", it's extremely hard to go against that. Believe me, I completely understand. My own mother was Not supportive of my not relaxing my hair. She was great at giving me snide remarks or looking at my hair in disgust. But guess what?? She's totally changed her tune and is my biggest fan. I heard her telling my also natural cousin on the the phone today how beautiful her hair is looking. Ummm, that's not the same woman I knew in 2010! Look, people will talk and have opinions all day long. Who cares?! Well, maybe you do. But realize this - this is Your Hair. You need to do what's best for YOU - your hair, your scalp, your self esteem.
I love seeing naturals out and about in my area! I love seeing them at conferences! I truly believe that this blog has opened eyes and given ladies the courage to be who God made them to be without shame. At the beginning of my natural journey, my friend encouraged me to start looking at natural hair blogs {one of which was this one!}. I would read sooo many articles and see so many pictures. I recalled learning about influence in school and how people emulate or become more familiar with images that they see often. I figured that I should read and look at as much as I could about natural hair so that it would become... errr, natural to me, for lack of a better word! ;) And it worked. I feel it's our duty to show the world, "Hey! This is what unrelaxed hair looks like!" Then slowly but surely, our hair will be less stigmatized and criticized by those around us.
Remember, everything that God made was GOOD, including the hairs on our head! :)
What do you think about Jen's journey? I find it very inspiring!!
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