3Ys Natural Look

I hit my 3 year mark in July but I wasn't jumping for joy or as excited like the first 2 years. My hair is in that stage where I can't really do much with it. I love changing up my hairstyles because I get bored quickly. However I wanted to share my go to styles for my 3 year wrap up.

Natural 1.7

I've been Natural for a year and seven months now and happy with my hair.
I don't really have a routine or favorite products. I just grab whatever I feel like using. I might start using different products since it is getting longer and the texture of my hair has changed a bit.
I took some pictures to show you guys my progress

 My Hair Length is 8inches all around (:

Whoo I'm 1 Year Natural!!!

HEY LOVAHs

I am HAPPY and PROUD to say I just celebrated My 1 year mark being Natural on Tuesday. It really doesn't seem like its been a year but it has. I have to be honest that its still a learning process and you have to be committed to your hair. I have to say there were SEVERAL times where I wanted to cut my hair off, color it and/or start over. I'm Proud to say I NEVER once thought about going back to relaxers. Yes it is hard finding hairstyles and dealing with a new texture but relaxers were more frustrating and damaging to my hair. I think that I could have done better with my hair but I am proud of the results.

Goals:
Use Raw Shea Butter, when I decided to go natural everyone talked about how much they love using shea butter and how it help with their hair. I went out and brought some but never used it because my hair was growing out and I really didn't see the need to using it. Now that my hair has reached a certain length.

Detangle more..I've been really bad about detangling my hair after every wash. Sometimes I'm in a rush and just need to wash my hair and go. (i don't do wash and gos)

TRIM its time for a Serious Trim. I have not trim my hair because I'm afraid of cutting it lol said the person who wanted to chop it off again #sad. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to trim it myself or go to a professional. However that's been an issue lately.

Throughout the year I had to deal with dryness but lately its been getting better, however I'm dealing with shedding. I really need to find ways to deal with this. I try my hardest not to put too much stress on my hair. I try once to put heat on it. I flat iron a small section and decided I wasn't ready for that. Ok back to the shedding, if anyone knows a method I can use please leave me a comment it would help alot!!

Products that I use
Can't live without
Shampoo/Condition-Herbal Essence Hello Hydration
Leave in Conditioner-Creme of Nature Lemongrass and Rosemary
Deep Conditioner/Detangler-Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayo
Oils-Olive Oil, Coconut, and Jojoba Oil mix with WATER

Growing on me
Shea Moisture Organic Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Restorative Trauma Masque
Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship

PICTURE TIME!!!

Twist Out

Dec'10-July'11

Finger Coil

Aug '10-June'11

Hair Puff

Nov'10-June'11

Mohawk/SidePinup

Dec'10-Jan'11-June'11

Natural Hair-My Tips/Advice for Transitioning

Here's my Top Tips/Advice for those Transitioning

You don't have to BC(Big Chop)
Cutting your relax hair is a Huge step into going natural. However you can trim your relaxed hair week by week or month by month. You don't have to do what others are doing. It All depends on what you want or comfortable with.

Try New Hair Styles
Braids
Twist outs
Roller sets
Wigs/Weave
Hot Combs

Try New Products ( Link )
Its Ok to peep around the corner to see whats on the other side of the isle. When I told my friends and family what I use on my hair they would say "the white folks products" YES. Those products work just as well as black products. Sometimes BETTER!! Just because its not market for black people doesn't mean it doesn't work for our kinky/curly hair.

Try using Products that are Alcohol-Free


Moisturize/Style your hair using Oils ( Link )


Styling your hair while its wet or damp (Link )

Allow your hair to tell you what it needs
I allow my hair to go without styling or washing for a few days or week because the less I'm doing to it the more it grows.

Get to know your hair
no one knows your hair better than YOU!!

No 2 hair is alike
your hair is not going to look like the chick on TV or Magazine. Being hair envy is ok from time to time lol

Ask yourself is this what you want, going natural isn't a easy thing
There are times where you want to give up and that's ok. Sometimes hairstyles and products won't work. Patience and Practice is the best thing when dealing with your hair. Trying new things are not going to work all the time, plus do what works for you.

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!!! 
The first thing I did was research everything I used or did to my hair. Sometimes they didn't always help or work, but the more I knew the better and easier things got for me.

Natural Sunshine has helped me out the most!! Please check it out!!

Natural Showcase-Cheneri

How long have you been Natural or Transitioning?
I had my last perm in August 2009, transitioned to July 1st 2010 when I cut the rest of my hair off. So I have been natural thus far for 9 months

What made you go Natural?
I went natural because it was just something I wanted to try at first. I wanted the little curl hair cut. But after researching about it I came to the realization that it was more healthier for me.

Is (were) there any challenges to being natural?
I don't believe I had/have any bad challenges. When you become natural it's a learning process/journey, so everything that comes as a challenge to some is just apart of the process in becoming a better Naturalista to me.


Are you a product junkie?
YES! YEs! Yes! I am a PJ. I will not hide it or deny it. I don't look at it as a bad thing because it's my hair and I want the best for my hair for it to stay healthy. So, if buying and trying out different products after products help me to do that, then by all mines show me the products. LOL!!

How do you feel about wigs and weaves?
I don't have a problem with wigs or weaves. I don't wear them now since I BC'd but before I started transitioning and while transitioning they were one of my best friends so to speak. It helps in the journey with transitioning and also when you want a protective style or even a break from all your beautiful curls.

How do you rock your hair?
My go to styles are:
Fro (of course)
The Puff
Twist/Twist Outs
Very Curly (with a styling gel or custard)


Have you had to do deal with *side eye* looks from other races?
I wouldn't say I had to deal with it because it's just a look, just keep my head up and rocked out my confidence. I mean a look can't hurt me! *Shrug*


How do you feel about Natural vs Relaxed Battle?
The Battle...um!! I was just explaining to someone that I don't to much get into the battle because if people would really sit back and think about it, we have more naturals in the world than relaxed/permed. Most people don't put chemicals in their hair. Most men don't, most Cucasians don't, Asian, or any other race. If you look at it most Cucasians don't alter there hair to become straight/curly, they wear their hair as is. So with the Natural Hair Movement to me, it's not a Natural Hair Movement, it's just that us as African Americans are starting to come to the realization that we don't have to use chemicals to look beautiful but we can wear our hair just like we want to. Other races figured that out long ago.

If you could only give one advice to someone going natural what would it be?
RESEARCH

If you have a blog, twitter, etc feel free to add!!
http://naturalsunshine.ning.com/profile/Chenerijohnson

 Cheneri Relaxed  & Big Chop

Twist Out & FOTD

Today I had a Doctor's appointment and decided to keep my makeup simple it was really gloomy out /: but I did wear a twist out that I actually twisted last week. For some reason my curls were popping more and my hair fell the way I wanted this time. I very please with my twist out!

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity. -Carl Jung

My First Wash n Go

Today I wanted to rock a Wash n Go, I was happy with the way it turned out. Not sure if it will be an everyday thing but I will wear it out more often.

Natural Hair-Deep Conditioner

Late Last night I decided to wash my hair. Since I was feeling lazy I decided to mix the products. I'm not sure if it made a big different, but it is soft. I ended up mixing Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque and Hair Mayonnaise. I applied the mayo to the scalp and the masque to my hair. and massage them in. After 30 mins I use my Denman brush and detangle my hair.

  As you can see from the brush I had some shredding, which is about 2 weeks worth. Yeah I know I should detangle every week but I like doing after 2 weeks.

Dry Natural Hair??

One of my friends wanted to know how to deal with dry natural hair. I want to share with her and others what I do to my hair or what I have read/learned since going natural. We all have different hair types what works for me may not work for you. However there is nothing wrong with trying out something new.

Oils, are one the BEST ways to help with dry and brittle hair. There is alot of different oils that can help reduce or control dryness. I went into a little bit more details about the different types of oils and the brands I use in my hair click here.

My Top Pick Oils
Olive Oil or EVOO(extra virgin olive oil)

Coconut Oil

Jojoba Oil

Vitamin E Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Tree Tea Oil
Castor Oil

You can find these oils in your local supermarket, beauty supply store, GNC, etc. I put the ones I use on a daily in blue. Now there are 3 different ways I apply these oils to my hair. These things help keep my hair soft, smooth, and moisturize

1. In a Spray Bottle- I put a mixture of my favorite oils and water in a cheap spray bottle you can get a walmart or the dallor store. I apply it to my hair whenever it looks or feels dry. I spray this mixture in my hair also before and after I style my hair. You can do this in the morning or at night, just be carefully with oils they can lead to breakouts! Make sure you wrap your hair up at night to keep the moisture in.

2. Prepoo- its pretty much applying your favorite oil(s) to your dry hair before washing it. You can also use honey if you want. You apply it to the entire hair and scalp. Now you can leave it in for a few minutes(20-30), couple hours, or even overnight(I haven't done yet). Then you rinse that out and apply your conditioner/shampoo.

3. Hot Oil Treatment- This where you heat your oil(s) and apply it to the hair. For my hair it makes it appear shiny and smooth, without giving it that greasy look or feel.


Water, is a great moisturizer. Just be carefully or aware of "Hard" Water, which can cause your hair to become dry, fizzy, or itchy. It can make your skin dry and itchy as well. I know when I was relaxed I did everything I could to avoid getting my hair wet because it would cause my hair to frizz up. At the time I didn't know water was good thing for my hair. Now that I'm natural I apply water whenever I get a chance and I find myself walking in the rain, yes I said walking!! I don't RUN from the rain anymore..lol


Butters, Ok I wont go into much details in this area because I don't use this method, well not yet. Shea Butter is another product people use to help with dryness.


Spray Bottle Mixture Result                                             

Hot Oil Treatment Result

Hair Puff at 7mos

I wanted to share with you guys my Hair puff at 7 months Natural!

6 Months Natural

Hey Guys I'm 6 months natural (:

Natural Hair-Shampoo & Conditioners

Hey Ladies, I wanted to do a post on the Shampoo and Conditioners I use on my hair. Alot of my friends are thinking about going natural and not sure what to use on their hair after the BC. Now these are the things that I LOVE for my hair. I really don't like changing products that I use on my hair specially when its working great.

Here are a few terms that you may want to know.

Cowash-Using a conditioner to wash your hair in place of a shampoo
DC-A deep treatment or deep conditioner

Now these are the 2 terms I use the most there are a lot more terms you may hear around the Natural Community here's a few links to great websites for more terms 
curlynikkiforums.com
naturalsunshine.ning

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo+Conditioner
Description "Moisturizing shampoo+conditioner with orchid and coconut milk
This shampoo not only makes my hair soft but it also smells great, it has a cotton candy scent. Nothing overpowering. I've posted several pictures with this in my hair. I love the cute quotes on the bottle.

"I'm a moisture packed multitasker"

 

Herbal Essences Totally Twisted

"Curls + Waves conditioner with a fusion of french lavender twist"

I have to honestly say this really makes my curls pop and the smell is great as well. This has a cute quote as well.

 "I'm Deliciously bent and your hair is too"

 

Giovanni
"Tree Tea triple treat invigorationer conditioner" Its great for All hair types. Now this is suppose to do a whole lot of great things for your hair. I'm going to list a few.
-Strengthens hair with a 3 organic oil blend to stimulate and condition.
-Alleviated dry, flaking scalp with organic tea tree botanical.
-Moisturize, smooth, detangle.

Creme of Nature Lemongrass & Rosemary Leave in Conditioner
Leave in Conditioner for dehydrated hair.
-Creamy formula quickly softens, detangles and condition.
-Organic lemongrass add shine
-Rosemary helps protect and strengthen.

I hope this helps.

Natural Hair Update

As some of you may already know I'm currently 5mos natural. I decided to give you guys a quick run down on my hair. First of all I don't wear my hair out as much because of the weather. I mostly wear protective styles, mainly because I'm clueless. On how to protect it through the winter. When I'm in the house I wear my hair out. I take care of my hair like I "think" I should, I don't apply alot of different products to my hair. I really don't see the point on changing up something that's working great for my hair. Now my hair does get very dry so I apply a mixture of oils to it whenever it starts feeling rough. That's probably the only issue I've been having with it. My hair is growing out very well in my opinion. I'm learning the best thing to do is let my hair do its own thing. I have to say that protective styles are really helping my hair. I mostly wear wigs and I LOVE IT. I know some people don't understand that and think why cut off all your hair just to rock wigs and that's not the case. Just because I went natural doesn't mean I can't wear wigs,braids, and etc. Me going natural was not to go on this life changing journey, I did it because I was sick of damaging my hair. However since going natural its making a huge difference in my life. I'm more confident and happy about myself. I can see the true me and not worry what others think. My life is a work in progress...but I do give alot of credit to my hair. Its playing a huge part with me finding myself.

I will post a length check and go into more details on my hair and a list of products I'm using. I'm thinking of doing a couple of reviews on the wigs I've been wearing.

Here's a couple of pictures of my hair in a twist out after a few days