FOTKI

	Login\|Free Signup
Finally - upload VIDEOS to your albums!

Gr2006/LynnieB

Welcome
About Me
My Fotki Feed
Albums
- My FotkiMap
- What's New
- Tags
- Comments
My Web Videos
My Guestbook
My Journals
My Forums
My Faves

Gr2006/LynnieB

My personal journey tested my patience and definitely had it's share of drama but I would not take back one single moment of it. I have learned so much during this time not only about my hair but about my own will to accomplish a goal - a very worthwhile goal.

I just want to say a HUGE THANK-YOU to the ladies at Nappturality, LHCF and Happy Curls for sharing so much of themselves with me. I never would have had the courage to travel this road without your help, love and acceptance.

I also want to thank every single person who has been kind enough to leave a little love in a sistah's fotki! Yall just don't know (or perhaps you do) how much a kind or positive word can really affect a person.

To those still traveling the road or even considering making the transition, I'm gonna leave my transitioning philosophy here. Perhaps it can help someone else along the way.

Good Luck and Happy Thoughts to all those who make the choice.

Love to all,

LynnieB (LHCF) and gr2006 (NP)

*******

I transitioned for 15 months and BC'd in May '07. I've been natural for 2 years and am now working on my 3rd. This is the longest my hair has ever been. Ever.

2009.

How I got here? It's actually very simple. No amazing growth products, no bandwagons, no mythical magical anything at all. Just plain common sense and knowledge harvested from my favorite hair sites.

What I do and what do I use? Basic, easy to find products that do not cost an arm, leg or your first born child used consistently. I do try something new once in a while but my basics will always be my foundation.

I shampoo regularly, every 7-14 days. Yes, I do use SLS or silicone containing shampoos but will switch to a poo bar or cone-free poo.

I use conditioner at EVERY wash session and I deep condition EVERY wash session.

I detangle in sections, do everything - in sections. I do not detangle in the shower but outside the shower by spritzing my dry hair with a condition/water mix and let it sit 5-10 minutes or until the hair has softened. After thoroughly detangling, I step into the shower. Doing it this way gives me all the time I need to get the job done without worrying about running out of water or jacking up my electric bill. I condition the same way.

Products vary. I have a ton of Nature's Gate poo's left over from my PJ days that I'm still working on (yea it's been around a looooong time LOL), Burt's Bees baby poo bar, Elasta QP's moisturizing poo (the name escapes me) or just whatever is available or in easy reach.

Conditioners I'm pretty picky about. Each one has some property that I like. Right now I'm really hung up on Tresomme Moisture Rich con but use Vo5, Suave, Garnier Fructis (something), Nature's Gate (see NG poo issue) and Aussie Moist. Many of those are leftover from my transitioning and new natural PJ stage.

Deep conditioners. My hair has no problems with protein, not sensitive to it at all. Africa's Best Hair Mayo, LustraSilk cholesterols, Aphogee 2-step and the reconstructor all get used regularly with the exception of Aphogee which only will only see me every 3 months or so.

What else?

Olive oil - used for everything from facial oil to scalp oil to hair dressing.
Rhassoul Clay - have a bag of that left over from PJ days that I really need to use up.
Cassia (the noncoloring one) - also left over from PJ days that I really should use up.
Honey, Molasses, coconut creme (in freezer) all see some play but not regularly.

Water.

Styling? Well fotki tells most all. I swing between natural styles like twists, braid/twist outs or a rare puff and an occasional heat style tossed in for variety. All my straight styles are done with an older model Maxi-Glide with the teeth plate and I do use a heat protectant. Sometimes I will use a blowdryer for blowed out/stretched out style or to speed the straightening process but prefer to just make a bunch of twists/braids and allow the hair to airdry before using heat.

I've attempted to do a rollerset w/magnetics and perm rods a couple times but my hair's so thick and long that I get frustrated with it after 1/2 hour or so. I may start trying the flexirods again and see what happens.

One thing though, once my hair's in a style for the day whether it be natural or heat styled, I don't mess with it. No unnecessary combing or brushing or preening. Every once in a while I may take my fingers and smooth down the bottom half of the hair (sometimes I pull out some shed hairs) to keep tangling at a minimum. If it's in a ponytail, bun or updo than even that's not necessary.

Tools?

Big tooth, wide arse combs - the bigger and wider the better for wash days. I purchased a K-cutter comb a couple months ago and LOVE IT. It works great for picking through tangled hair. If you get one, becareful - it's about the technique more than the tool and the tool should make your technique easier to perform - Got it? LOL

Occasionally use rattail combs (both ends) to pick through a really nasty tangle or comb through the hair to rollerset it (yea right hahaha).

I have a Denman brush (9 row) that rarely gets used now and a Denman paddle brush that gets used more often.

I dust the ends of my twists if I feel like it needs it, snip splits if I see them and remove Single Strands Knots when I feel them. The number of SSK I find has been significantly reduced by limiting the amount of unstretched styles I wear and applying extra moisture and olive oil to the ends.

No magic, just common sense and a basic routine. If it works for me, it can work for you too. If you don't do anything else, please find some "never fail" base products and find yourself a basic regimen (the simpler the better).

Take care and HHG!!

LynnieB/gr2006

General Information