One year, six months, loc'd and loving it.

Reflection.

Last night I was up late catching up on my LIU inbox, I had over 400 unread emails! while reading them I saw the date and realised it has been one month since I last blogged.

I have been busy with life generally, however, I have also been in a deep contemplation about the hair loss issues my fellow bloggers have faced. There are quite a few ladies having this experience in varying degrees. Their situation made me reflect seriously on this "hair thing" and I try to put it all in perspective. It is just hair, and it is dead, and I personally need to be careful how much emphasis I put on it, after all, I am more than the dead keratinized material emerging from my skull. Because I know how I would feel in such situation, my prayers and love go out to those lovely ladies who face this challenge. I cannot advise where I would struggle! I know, I have been there, twice before!

On a lighter note,

I been a bad girl, first off, I have always been lazy, never good at doing my hair previously and getting worse because loc's are so easy to manage. I got to a point over the past months where I wouldn't even bother to spritz or oil! I mean I just didn't do it. One morning I looked good at myself and gave myself a talking to, picked up my Rose water and Gylc bottle and 'sorted it out' ... !

Also, many who have followed my blog know how much I love to wash my hair, well I wash it when I want to, which means as often as twice a week at times ( mainly because I can do my own retights and repairs) I am guilty of that today. I washed my loc's on Thursday and then did a condish today.

Last weekend, Friday leading into Saturday early morning, I spent retightening my hair. I really wished somebody would have done them for me, but once I started I managed to do them in good time. I started after 1 pm in the afternoon, amidst cleaning, cooking, and washing. I completed by 1.40 am Saturday morning. I washed my hair later that afternoon, and went out that evening. Later however, I find that I have been having a really itchy scalp at night and cannot stand having my silk scarf on while I sleep. I am seriously contemplating silk/satin pillowcases! However, though I also find my loose hair also quite irritating too ... go figure!

I suspect that the length and thickening of my hair is creating the discomfort. Trust me I am really not complaining but will have to find a way to DEAL WITH IT!

Regime and products.

I love Aubrey organics, honeysuckle rose shampoo, that is a definite keeper, but can't resist trying something new. Soo lets see what I been using ...

I was inspired to try Baby shampoo, and found it lovely and light to use. It does a good job, cleansing gently and smelling good, a long lasting scent, I also loved the feel and look of my locks after.

The next week I found a bottle of I Love Juicy by Lush. I suspect it is clarifying and found it a tiny bit drying, and also my loc's felt slightly rough and frizzed. ( So I second washed with baby shampers!) Juicy was a good cleansing shampoo though. I would use it again.

A week later, I kept up with Baby shampoo then second washed with Honeysuckle Rose because I missed the scent. I am just in a place of indecision lol!

Thursday I used Pantene aqua light shampoo and Condish, mainly because they claim to prevent build up, which is obviously great for loc's. I pre-washed with Dax Vegetable Oil shampoo which literally does what it says on the bottle. I must say after that my loc's were really CLEAN and felt good and looked good too! I used the conditioner, and left it on for a few hours. I rinsed later and lightly oiled using Healing oil. My loc's looked healthy, shiny and the smelled really goooood!!

Today I was just, I don't know ... I wanted to just condition them! So I rinsed under the shower and then used my Honeysuckle rose which is a thick white conditioner, I made SURE I rinsed well and examined each lock carefully. If you are a newbie PLEASE DO NOT use this product ... I had to re lock about 4 loc's that loosened. Next time I will dilute the product, However, I figure that I clarify regularly and I do not use any shampoo or products that cause build up.

Styling.

My loc's are getting longer and I really should consider curling. I am concerned about weakening them as my locks are micro in some places and I do not want to stretch and weaken them further. I do need to try curling or braiding though because they are growing fast and I have varying lengths and braiding should help provide an even style.

random long loc's doing their thing.

Loving my Locs.

Training.

This post is longer than I anticipated, and I haven't talked about my escapades. Would you believe half term has come and gone this past week and I have spent it training. Last Saturday I began my personal goal to attend 3 pump classes in a week, the first at 10 am that morning.

So Saturday a.m - Pump. Monday a.m - Pump. Tuesday a.m -  LBT's. Tuesday p.m - Pump. Wednesday rest ( and boredom!). Thursday a.m - Zumba.

Friday a.m - training on the equipment for a couple hours. Today? BED!! Hair conditioning, rest, aches, and relaxation. Could really do with a massage!

Believe me, the results are EVIDENT! I am no longer a size ten in all stores LOL!

Legs, thighs and butt have large muscle and these muscles have been worked, enhanced and are now standing firm. Not my opinion, but that of a good friend who saw me this afternoon in immodest clothing (mini dress) hee hee.

I cannot repeat her Jamaican patois exclamation! Rude! haa haa! Love ya Miss M.

Also, big shout out to my gym buddy Miss C who is considering embarking on the journey! Welcome sweetie, you will not regret it. Welcome also to other ladies who I have spoken to in the past months about my hair and who have been inspired by my loc journey and are transitioning and saving for their moment!

My fellow bloggers and viewers welcome and please feel free to critisize my product junkieism, or inspire me further ... all constructive comments are welcome. Feel free to respond as it makes blogging far more interesting ... :)

Love and Blessings Nai ... x

Just had to post my new personal theme tune of the moment, as this is what I seem to spend my time doing and loving ... :))))

Black Eyed Peas - Pump It

Autumn, Training, Workouts and the excesses thereof ....

Oh Wow ...
I am hurting ... everywhere! It is more of an everywhere ache rather than one specific place. My tail bone is aching and I do not know why! I don't remember any direct impact on it.

As mentioned yesterday, I have finally discovered the joys of workout, my favorite activity is Body Pump.
Over the last 6 weeks I ventured along to Zumba and raved about it so much, Nita, my mate, drove all the way to join me in class. So that became our staple.
I loved it so much I began to go to both Zumba classes, I then fell into Ab attack, and was ecstatic and  amazed at how doing crunches killed pmt pains ... dead!
I enjoyed Ab attack (twice a week) and ended up staying for Body Blast, which led me to Body Pump and LBT's.
Well that, I think, was my down fall. The classes fall on separate days except BP and LBT which run consecutively. I went from one to the other ... and was downhill from there. I didn't feel pain as such, just sick, flu'ey type symptoms and then the asthma.
I think the big issue is that I am back to work and trying to continue my regime along with it. I have been unable to do ANYTHING all weekend .... errr I mean after B'pump yesterday ( which I performed terribly at, I had to reduce my weights, when, prior to this weekend, I had been increasing them steadily! )
Upper body strength development is part of my aim, But, I can already see a big change in my lower body and legs, I am naturally stronger here. But the erm biggest difference is the erm ... butt ...!
No one told me the glutes would get bigger, although I understand why ...! ... AND I am putting on more weight.
My legs are slimming, but muscle more defined. I am actually really surprised at all this because this really never was my sort of thing, seeing results so quickly is quite interesting.

However,  I am an addict. I like the buzz ... simple. Discovering another aspect of me. Had to call my trainer friend for advice because I was feeling so unwell this weekend. She reminded me that I would have done all of this years ago but  I was committed to raising the family so wouldn't get into it. Good friends are rare :)) She also warned me to REST, to allocate rest days  to allow my body to recoup. Wow, wanted to start pilates too tomorrow! ... hmm :P

My other problem is food, I have been starving most of this week, absolutely starved. But too tired to cook properly. ( or rather I am too fussy with my food) so didn't eat the right foods. I have been so bad I will not confess what I craved AND ate!

Ok finally about lovely LOC's ...

I love the fact I am loc'd and free. During the lessons I let them fly around (although this may not last long!) as they are falling into my eyes. I just shower and steam after the workout ... then dry naturally as I get on with the rest of my day.
My locs are getting firm and strong (not so soft and loose as before). I am no longer hunting products.
I already posses a grand selection. It is about maintenance at the moment. When I can remember, I use Vatika coconut oil on my locks and go directly in the steam room for about 25 mins, max. They look lovely healthy and strong  after a treatment. I still only wash once a week, It does not matter to me if my hair is "clean' or not when I steam.  The results are the same regardless. Actually my loc's never get 'dirty' really. I only use R and G water daily and occasionally (once or twice) Vatika or healing oil.
So as you can see, blogging is becoming a bit of a sideline now ... but to make up for it I might start posting ... FULL body pics ...  lol  IF you are lucky!!! ha ha

Have a blessed week all,  you can leave your opinion if you have one, feel free. :))

Season of the sun ... moisture hunt pt 2

Hey everyone :)))

Just a pic of me and my baby. ( I do not care that he is 11!! That is irrelevant!! HE is STILL my BABY !! loool

My end of holiday blog, a lovely Saturday evening. This morning something very strange came over me ... I began to play with my hair in a an attempt to flat twist. I have tried? to create a style for next month.

Not only is it my birthday but the wedding day of my oldest friend. To be honest, I need to try something and practice makes perfect. Mind you,  I could always go and see me good friend and previous hairdresser and she can do it for me! LOL

Yeah I like that idea much better !!! ha ha ha! 

One reason that i avoid twisting and braiding my locs is because I have weak parts to some locs, where they are still curly and thin (not yet loc'd) I think if I add too much tension to them then that will cause breakage.

Moisture hunt.

Yesterday I tried Aloe vera gel (pure) and a little spritz. The weather was quite warm (for me anyway) and throughout the whole day I lost count the amount of times I had to spritz (Awapuhi) in fact, the little bottle is almost empty! So i like the idea of aloe vera, just not moisturising enough.

Today was just shower, a little, healing oil before hand. and Africare leave in conditioner. Which was the very first I had ever used. I felt it left my hair a bit tacky before, but my locks are a lot longer, thicker and thirstier now. So I think I have found the best combination.

1. A few drops Healing Oil pre shower. ( I think they say it seals in moisture that way) OR Natures  shine before washing my hair.

2. Spritz with Africare leave in conditioner ( They are also XTN Care) It says on the bottle that it is a detangling spray so i do not recommend it for newbies who 'slip' easy.

So far today my hair looks and feels much better ... although, the weather has calmed down a bit, it is humid but overcast.

Summer Sunshine ... we love you ... and so do my locs. Yes Anthia -Ofo it is official. My growth pattern is at its best in the summer and the evidence is that my locs are growing like weeds! yaay.

My hair type/ length has always ventured past shoulder. But, my loc'd hair is growing thicker and faster for obvious reasons! I notice because I am struggling with them getting into my eyes (fringe/bangs) and with todays style sitting neatly on my shoulders, the thick of it covering my neck easily, making me hot and wanting to put it up ... :))) I dont think I can cope with the fringe in a few weeks.

I actually watched one loc grow over the last 2 weeks, at first it lay above my eyebrow and now touches below my right eye.

Loc Love.

My girlfriends are very impressed with my loc progress Michi and Nita especially, (Roz ALWAYS had a thing for locs! ... ha ha )
Michi had to 'cop a feel' and 'groped' away getting a good feel of the growth and thickness. She loves it! (her words! lol)

Generally I have found, in the beginning, that the English (caucasions) seem to like locs a lot. Some of my best compliments and comments have come from them! One lady at my school, (a red head) told me she loved my hair BECAUSE it was natural, when I first got it done, she appreciated the natural texture.

My other loc lovers are my church sisters, they love them.

I have been surprised at the archaic responces I have read in some LIU emails. Some people have been told foolishness by church members and leaders alike. Ladies please relate to God alone and let the HOLY SPIRIT guide you! In these last days we need to get the minor details right. If you can't hear Him on a minor issue, what will you do on a major?

My simple attempt at flat twists pics below. above twist held with a head band. You can't say I didnt try! Have a great weekend . N'joi ... x

Season of the sun ... moisturising

Morning all,

The sun is shining and early morning its lovely and warm,

I am on the hunt for the best moisturising solution for my hair. Have spent (some) of this week trawling the web of natural hair blogs and vids for help.

It appears that I may have to make my own ...problem is the cost, I do not buy small or cheap  ... hmm

JML, as mentioned before, works well but is not a clear liquid, and I would rather avoid any chance of build up (even though it says it does not). In fact it works best straight after washing or just before a wash.

Coconut oil based products seem to work very well on my locs, Natures shine is excellent!
Inecto coconut glossing spray is 'Ok'

However I need WATER too, So, I always need to use 2 products one oilbased and one water.

Yesterday I used African Healing oil first (straight after shower) and then sprayed with PM's Awapuhi moisture mist. This morning the locs look good. not dry and dull, and no 'tacky' feel to them as some products have done in the past.. ( I found that with Taliah Waajids mist bodifier)

So what is the regimen?

Well I feel it is best to oil twice weekly and water based spritz daily (for summer anyway) and try to resist washing until 2 weeks. (or at least till I stop slipping)

Hmm ...  I feel like visiting the sauna/steam room ...

Bajan Lily !!! this is just for youuuuu xxx and all my other british loc lurkers!

http://www.pak-super.com/

http://www.pakcosmetics.com/

http://www.pakswholesale.com/
 
http://www.baldwins.co.uk/
 
                                               TO BE CONTINUED LATER|!!... sorry, sunny, gotta go out LOL!
 
N'joi .... naturally !!! xx