Today’s Guest Post comes from Natasha, Newly Natural after transitioning for well over a year &  BC’ing less than a month ago.

I’d been transitioning for well over a year before I decided to BC (Big Chop). As I’ve said before, it wasn’t a conscious decision. In fact, the term transitioning was not a part of my regular vocabulary. All my news about the natural hair community came from a single source (a certain naturalista) and until several months ago, I wasn’t interested in ferreting out more information. I was content to just let my hair do its own thing. At least for a while. But then I started noticing the breakage at the point where my two textures met and I got tired of rocking the same tired headband and ponytail look that I had adapted months before. I needed to do something. I could no longer ignore my hair and expect it to behave. I’d done that when I had a relaxer but part of the reason why I stopped with the chemical treatments was because I wanted to take better care of my hair. The headband and ponytail shtick just wasn’t cutting it. But thoughts about cutting it all off, of just working with my own natural texture…scared me. Initially.

My natural hair journey is not unique. I figured that out when I discovered what a font of information YouTube is for people in the natural community. When I turned to the internet to find some transitioning styles as a first step to taking better care of my hair, I did not realize that there was so much out there. And for about a week, I ignored most of my responsibilities and tried to take in as much of it as possible. It was so addicting! Anyway, I added Bantu knots to my repertoire and worked on perfecting it for a while. It was quick and easy i.e. perfect for me. The plan was to add in other styles over time and I had an idea that I would next take on the flat twist. But before I could move beyond the first style, thoughts about cutting off the relaxed ends and starting from scratch crept into my subconscious more often that I liked. No way, I thought! I wasn’t ready to cut it, was I? I didn’t realize then just how close I was to making a decision about that.

Thoughts about BC-ing haunted me for a good month or so before I caved. I had been going back and forth in my mind about it, trying to picture the finished product and imagine how things would lay. But I found it difficult to picture what I would look like once I finally shed the last of my relaxed hair. It had been so long since I’d last seen it. In fact, I talked with my family about it and was reminded that I was about 11 or 12 when I got my first relaxer, after a brief flirtation with hot combing (too much work!) Try as I might, I am unable to conjure up feelings from that that period but I’m sure that I didn’t mind the process too much. I vividly remember burnt scalp being the norm but how else can I explain the continuous relaxer treatments over the past decade plus. Clearly, I thought that the benefits outweighed any suffering. Bottom line, I wasn’t sure what my next move was going to be (cut or not) so I spent a considerable amount of time thinking about it and trying to make a decision. And just when I would think that I was ready to BC I would pull back, hesitate. After a while, the urge to pull back grew weaker and weaker and before I could question myself further, I researched natural hairstylists in my neighborhood and immediately made an appointment for a consultation with one who looked promising. In hindsight, even though things turned out well, I could have spent a little more time at the research phase.

When I went to see a certain hairstylist/barber/”locktician” who shall not be named and asked him to take a look at my hair and give me an idea of what I would be working with after the cut, he assured me that I would have a good 4 inches or so post-BC and that that was enough to do the transitional styles that I had in mind. To be honest, if he had told me that I would barely have enough to even manage a two-strand twist when the deed was done, I don’t know if I would have gone through with it. After all, I had been growing out my hair for over a year. It would be a waste to cut it all off, right? But that’s pretty much what he-who-shall-not-be-named did. He cut, then used his clippers, cut some more and clippers again. As I watched my fro decrease in size, I couldn’t help but ask the stylist how much more of my hair he would be cutting. And when he reminded me that I had come this far, I had to agree. There was no turning back, only looking forward to what’s next. When he was finally finished, for better or worse, I had an inch long fro. Pretty short, but I figured I could work with it.

If I looked less than pleased when I left the stylist’s shop, it wasn’t because I did not like the way my hair look. Sure, I had moments of uncertainty and in all honesty, during the first couple days after my BC, there were times when I wondered if I had made the right decision. My hair was much shorter than I expected and more importantly, what I had been prepared to work with. I had envisioned it a little longer, at least long enough to work with Bantu knots and all the other styles that I wanted to try. For now, I don’t what else I can do with it yet except fro it out and define my curls. But I genuinely like it and am content with it at its current length. I’ve even developed a sort of signature style! About a month after BC-ing, I am still so in awe that I actually went through with the cut and with how much I’m enjoying this phase. I sometimes find myself sneaking peeks at my reflection and reaching up to touch my hair and I can say with certainty that I am owning this new look! So, if I didn’t look too happy immediately after I BC-ed it wasn’t because I didn’t like my hair. It has more to do with the fact that he-who-shall-not-be-named padded my bill with additional treatments that I had not consented to. Nope, I was not pleased about that at all. But I do love my hair!

To learn more about Natasha and her life’s adventures, visit her blog. And If you’re currently transitioning, thinking about embarking on the natural hair journey or recently did the Big Chop and would like to share your hair woes or concerns, submit your story to: info@backtocurly.com

Alright…so, as of late a girl has been sticking with what works best for le hair as far as leaving it well moisturized, defined and inching me closer to 7-day hair. I’m still having a hard time believing my product of choice these days is a gel, namely the Eco Styler…but I digress. If you’ve been reading for a while you understand that a love has blossomed for this brand & I have wholeheartedly given in. A few weeks ago I felt like a champion PJ after a friend of mine spotted & snagged the Olive Oil formula in her local BBS & immediately called me up to let me know. Yes, I have friends who will hunt in honor of my PJ obsession…I feel blessed. Yesterday, after hearing more than a few glowing reviews on this formula being used to define by way of twist-outs, I made a plan.

Products Used:

• PrePoo: Curly Sexy Hair Moisturizing Conditioner ($9.99 for a 33 oz bottle via Marshalls or TJ Maxx!)
• Cleanse: Karen’s Body Beautiful Ultimate Conditioning Shampoo
• Deep Conditioner: Himalaya Amla & Holy Basil Conditioner
• Style: Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia (Formally KBB Hair Milk) + Olive Oil Eco Styler

I ran across several Youtube videos praising the Olive Oil formula when used in conjunction with a well moisturizing leave-in conditioner, & using KBB’s Sweet Ambrosia seemed like a better than fair option. The Sweet Ambrosia is creamy but does not leave hair weighed down or product heavy. Hair is very easy to detangle and after pre-pooing/cleansing the hair in sections, applying both products was relatively easy.

Started twisting a little too late in the evening & ended up heading to bed with slightly damp twists…what else is NEW!! I did apply a bit of KBB Creamylicious  on the tips of my fingers before unraveling each twist to help prevent excess in frizz. The end result was really better than I’d expected! Non-crunchy, well defined first day hair! The hair has overall movement, but my own personal ‘first day hair’ situation is ‘tiny hair’ as opposed to big, voluminous in YOUR face….hair. Which is kewl…watching it grow and swell this week with a bit of  help from some rain showers serenading the east coast should be fun.

Lately I’ve been contemplating keeping the bang situation a bit short to rock the all out bouffant…but I don’t trust my fingers to the scissors in that region of my hair. Cut too short and…well you know. If the urge strikes I just might give in…we’ll see.

Feel like headin down memory lane? Check out my Guest Blog over at Curly Nikki’s site! I’m late…it was posted last week…hmmmm.

Ladies of the NYC or nearby metro areas are in for a special treat! Last minute, but, heck…that’s NY - Carol’s Daughter will be hosting a Curl Clinic event Friday, September 24th (that’s tonight)  complete with Hair demonstrations, Hair Milk Giveaways, Styling tips & the chance to meet owner Lisa Price! Deets below. Your pick of locations, which is sweet & ideal if you’re farther out in the burbs or closer to the city and can shimmy on over to Brooklyn.

Exciting yes!

I’ve always been a fan of makeovers, no matter the person, place, home, office or what have you – currently my Rss feed reels in more than a dozen or so design sites & blogs that give me a daily fix of motivational style (several more added by the week!). It’s an easy thing to pin down, with a new look comes newer, fresher more exciting possibilities, which is why it made all the more sense for NaturallyCurly.com to launch & unveil their new decor on International Curly Day (didn’t even know there was one)!

Today, NaturallyCurly.com shares a fresh look and approach to content organization – offering a more personalized experience for the engaged curly, kinky and wavy hair consumer.“NaturallyCurly.com is segmenting “niche within a niche” content,” says Crista Bailey, NaturallyCurly CEO. “Our definition of ‘curly hair’ means multiple hair types with different needs. What works for someone with wavy hair may not work for someone with kinky hair.” The new site highlights topics that matter most to different hair types.

Revamp efforts include:

• Hair-type specific content
• Upgraded geo-targeted Salon & Stylist Finder, allowing visitors to find a nearby curl specialist
• Upgraded Frizz Forecast including 5 days of forecasting humidity and the elements’ effects on hair’s “Frizz Factor”

Since joining NC.com a few years back, the main lure has always been the CurlTalk series along with the supportive message boards, & thankfully both these features have remained intact! Easier to navigate & now with even more content and focus (information is now organized by hair type), you’ll leave with more than a few new ways to care for you natural hair.

To celebrate the launch of the new site, 10 advertising partners, including Pantene, Ouidad and John Frieda, have teamed up with NaturallyCurly.com in its “31 Days of Giveaways” promotion, starting October 1. Each day will be giving away prizes worth $250 or more. Plus each day you will be able to enter to win a grand prize worth thousands!

It really does look snazzy & fresh, with new product review bloggers that are hilarious! Check out Evelyn’s take on Oyin’s Burnt Sugar Pomade. I will be no doubt anticipating the upcoming giveaway promotions…as my grad school budget begs for my participation;-)

The Eco Styler gel train doth continue this week because in all honesty…I just can’t help myself. It’s been all Eco-all the time since my scalp irritations have held themselves at bay, and I’m simply having a hard time giving up something that works so well. Another week, and I was excited to try the Eco Styler formulated for Color Treated Hair (a.k.a. the blue gel) along with a few impromptu purchases while at Sephora & the Vitamin Shop.

Products Used:

• Pre-Poo: Curly Sexy Hair Moisturizing Conditioner
• Cleanse: Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Curl Perfecting Shampoo
• Deep Condition: Himalaya Amla & Holy Basil Conditioner
• Style: Qhemet Biologics Coco Tree Detangling Ghee + Eco Styler Gel

There are countless tips & tricks you learn as a natural haired femme over the years, and it wasn’t until recently that I blessed the day I opted to wash my hair in sections as opposed to the dunk and swirl method which more often than not resulted in added knots & tangles. Cleansing the hair in sections, especially if hair is thick/coarse/especially prone to breakage can aid in the detangling & deep conditioning process (if you are especially prone to scalp sensitivities, this method works wonders!). Using just a tiny amount of the Curl Perfecting Shampoo after pre-pooing, I massaged into my scalp & gently detangled the ends with a wide tooth comb.

I pre-poo in sections, cleanse in sections & also deep condition the hair in sections. Styling the hair then becomes all the more easy with zero to few tangles left in the hair, and manipulating strands with product whether it’s a butter or a gel is incredibly easy (you can also cut down on the amount of product used when hair is better detangled). For a  great tutorial and post on detangling and pre-poo methods, head over to The Moptop Maven (luvs her site!!). Using a great conditioner with enough slip is also important…actually, I think it’s kind of paramount. A good conditioner with better than average detangling properties should not only nourish your strands, it must ease the detangling process leaving hair soft & tangle free. This week I switched to Himalaya Amla & Holy Basil Conditioner to get the job done.

Running short on time again this week, but managed to have a good twisting session using Qhemet’s Detangling Ghee w/Eco Styler. Went to bed with hair slightly damp, lightly blow dried on low this morning & untwisted to pretty good results. First day hair was non-crunchy, still relatively moisturized and with just enough hold. This Eco Styler has a hold factor of 5 which is great if you’re twisting and want to rock a twist-out – hair is a bit fluffier as opposed to matted (even more so if you use a creamy leave-in underneath).

Humidity has been next to non-existent over the past few days which means not much to worry about in terms of swelling. Aim is to reach 7-day Fro like capacity by sleeping with trusty satin bonnet and moisturizing and sealing ends when needed.

Look for a post in the upcoming days on my continuing love affair with Eco Styler gel. Comparative reviews on all formulations used & possibly one other to try before exhausting all avenues. Heck…why not!

Have you all paused for a bit…taken the time to listen to these lyrics and just smile. I did, and failed to care what other people thought. I dig it cause this lil one is flaunting the kind of moxie I wish I had at that age. Can you imagine what her future holds….hopefully good things.

Of course there’s teaser video, why not. Looking forward to the real deal though and love that I now have an appropriate soundtrack to rock to whilst two-strand twisting my hair this weekend.

Don’t act like I’m the only one!

Have a Lovely Weekend!