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Dtownjbrown (Updated: Sept24th) Premium Fotki Member

Dtownjbrown (Updated: Sept24th)
*****JANUARY 2008*****

My hair has been chemical-free since March 2006 but I didnt Big Chop until January 2008. I wore kinky twists & box braid extensions during my entire transition, (a little over 20 months) but I didnt retain any "real" length due to poor maintenance. I would wear my extensions for two months, take them down to cut small amounts of the relaxed ends off, press or flat iron it for about two weeks, then put the extensions right back in. It wasnt until December 2007 that I discovered I was 100% natural and decided not to go back to the braid extensions.

Since then, I have been trying to learn how to care for my hair. Thanks to Nappturality and cNappyMeNow I am on my way to accomplishing this task. I only wish I had found them sooner. The first things I learned was that lack of moisture and excessive heat could cause irreparable damage to natural hair....I had been guilty of both of these things for nearly two years (during my entire transitioning period). Although my hair grew like crazy while I wore the braid extensions, I never moisturized except for my monthly deep condtioning (strike one). I dried my hair with a blow dryer at least twice a month (strike two). And worse of all, I pressed my hair with my ceramic flat irons set to highest number on the dial (strike three).

I had decided to transition with braids to avoid the "Big Chop" but when I got my ends trimmed after deciding not to go back to the braids, my ends were so damaged and split that a BC was essentially what I got. All I have to show for nearly two years of being chemical-free is 3 inches of hair. But all is not lost because I'm learning how to care for my "shorter-than-hoped-for" hair in the proper way. For instance, I recently discovered that my hair is protein-sensitive and that I should shy away from collagen, keratin & biotin (things that I used to think my hair needed when it started breaking off). And although my hair is not as long as I thought it would be by now, every itty bitty millimeter of my "current" 3 inches is healthy and that's enough to keep me happy for now.

General Information
Profile:
Personal
Since:
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Gender:
Female gender
Age:
38
Tags:
natural, hair, nappy, 4b, cNapp, african, kinky, coils, afro, twist, puff, braids, cornrow, conditioner
I'm here for:
Photo sharing, Networking
My Cities
Current:
Birthplace:
Also lived in:
Background & Lifestyle
Marital status:
Single
Sexual orientation:
Straight
Smoking:
Non-smoker
Drinking:
Light (social) drinker
Children:
I don't have kids yet
Education:
College graduate
Ethnicity:
Black/African descent
Body type:
Some extra baggage
Height:
Taller than average
Friends:
~JaZiToNeS~.... Little Update Nov 2009, LovelyMissYoli, KinkyCoils (Updates 11.3.09), Mrs Sweetness(Few updates), Sera25 (2nd Album):No PW-5 Years Natural 10-25-09*, CBS, MimiCuteLips - Update 10/31, AuNappturale *updated 10/25*, Bai ~~~~Updates August 11, 2008~~~~, BlackPearls, ~*Natural Beauty~*, blkgyrl103 www.soulfulwares.com, moe moe, Olympia-Banzuke, Aijo, Ms-gg getting my twa on like woah!, Khameleon2, Honeybunch2k6, Peajai, SupremeBeing, •∞∞• , Sesamebutterfly, Keonsmommy, Soulsista934 **~Updated October 29th, 2009!!~***, ITsiRc, Going back to the middle......, African-cheetah (started September), Mwedzi, Neo-soul ~ Finally Locin' ... , Sept 29th Updates!, NapptuRae1 (Updated Jan. 1st), DaBlackLady *UPDATED: 5/27/2009* PM me for PW, Hervirtue--On Hiatus!!, F2x (up, up, up AGAINNN), Oooop2 (UPDATES MADE 9/9!!!), Unnaturallyhappy: ~~EXTRA! EXTRA! July is here!~~, Golden *New October '09 Updates* Enjoy!, Chiliz345, Afropunk, Dreia35 Updates 12/29
Friend of:
~JaZiToNeS~.... Little Update Nov 2009, LaTia ****new pics are here****, Mrs Sweetness(Few updates), Desiree, Shawnee, BW1 ~updated ~01-24-09, AuNappturale *updated 10/25*, BlackPearls, Taniseka, October updates! thank you for previous comments!, Scarcity21-2 updates 6/28/08, QUEENOFDA706, EmpressRi ~October Updates!!!, Gr2006/LynnieB, EbonyEss, NappyRina *The FRO is Back! 10/2009*, Brooklynbornnapps *COLLEGE UPDATES*, TemiLnd - Back to braids for a LONG while., SupremeBeing, Theultra79, Kenyaste, Napp2BFree, Keonsmommy, Soulsista934 **~Updated October 29th, 2009!!~***, Mooks-hair Oct 2009 updated, ITsiRc, Lil Puffy Kinks, NP's Miss Nicole ~ Updated 10/16, UneekDiva - Who Gon Check Me Boo? LOL, Natural n' African-- More Updates!, MsKinkyKutie, Imverisuxcessful, NapturalAndPowerfulSistah, Myzen2(March and some begining 2009 Updates), SexyMama, ContentLiberation --- 10/18 update, micheli's ALL folders are open!!, Sept 29th Updates!, Cocoanaps3 New Locs are In!!!!, NapptuRae1 (Updated Jan. 1st), Larutan (Updates August 2009), DaBlackLady *UPDATED: 5/27/2009* PM me for PW, ***April and May 2009 Updates*****, ~Bohosweet~ updates, NaPPyfull *** [updated 08/31/09], Account has moved to fotki.com/intro2apatterson!!, Dymondessence **UpDaTeD MARCH.5.2009**, Koley, i did my b/c =) 10/24/09, Chan84 - UPDATE- 10/21/2009 , Belita01, Whitechocolate629, RedFromChi, *LaRizada* OCT Updates, Ceecy29~*November 3rd Updates sorry it took long*~, Neekie2212, Raven Cherokee New Updated Pictures 9 mths. Later, Tizzy, GiGi38- 10/7 Updates, Unnaturallyhappy: ~~EXTRA! EXTRA! July is here!~~, Mznaturalc, ButtaPecanBrown Girl, Eringirl- Small September 20, 2009 updates!, Monazoom, Dreampearl, NowIAmNappy Im on http://bglhonline.com/, Toya0517 ****debating if I shd loc****, mymy, Nanao, NaturallyMe, Semile01, T-Max, Afropunk, Sundayzchild - Birthday month, NaturallyNiké *Youtubin' it* APL by Jan 2010!, ***Honesty*** Update 10/16/09, FrAiDeEeCaT, Chi-Girl97 JULY 2009 UPDATES!, November Progress - Hooah! , Nubiankinks, Naturalchampion......Has a Text & Loves it!, Winonahorton, Nana Afua Konadu, ShyVirgoLady * 1 Year & Counting!--->11/7 update*, Afrobeautiful, Nappyjazz *can't wait to update***, Itsahairthing, Natural Goddess *Got A New Camera & Updates*, Jrzylioness, MissBailey30, Jackybabes24, Hartbroknpoet, I Like Spam, Wolfpack-girl, ShineyGurl , TCAMNAtural youravon.com/tiffanycameron, Chocolate-kinks, HoneyCoil89, SheisBeloved, NaturallySweet09 *LATE September/October updates* , Afriquelachic, Kadiane, ALLmEYEne, Egyptie, Naturallymixedbeauty, Antiguancurlygirl, NaTuRaLbEaUtY81