Wrapped Up

I love wearing head scarves!

I decided to wear one today since it was cool in DC 

and I wanted to have my hair covered, not for any particular reason.

Anyways, OF COURSE I took some pictures for y'all!

I must say I may have to kick the beanies to the curb. 

I like this look WAY more!

FYI: I used a regular scarf that I purchased from H&M.

Captured Curls: Dana J.

Everyone, meet the beautiful Dana!

She has been natural all of her life BUT she still has a great journey to share with us.

I know Dana personally and she is a awesome person, not to mention 

that she has awesome curlies to match.

Read her story below:

Tell me about YOU:

I am 24 years old and what you call obsessed with anything related to fashion. I started a blog which can be considered my quote on quote diary. I started a website which is for the average jane which is one who is far from average. I also write for a website called Glamourina. I am always getting involved in randomness, be it a cupcakery opening, styling for a fashion show, or just hanging out with friends and having random fun. I am a pretty open minded person and pretty much open to trying anything interesting and new. 

Tell me your hair care regimen (do you use heat, natural products, ect...):

My hair regimen is to get my hair cut/trimmed every 5 to 6 months. I wash my hair just about every 3 days and I cowash maybe once between those washes depending on how dirty I feel my hair is. I have used so many products from Aveeno leave-in-treatment to Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie and curl and style milk which I am currently not that big of a fan. I have used other products and I am still in the testing to find my favorite product phase even though I have had my curly hair for over a year and half now. I took the loc adventure for 2 1/2 years and boy was that an adventure. 

Tell me your texture and what works best on your hair type:

My texture is soft and coarse and the product that works best for my hair would have to be the Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie. 

Tell me the reaction you got when first going natural:

I have been natural my whole life but once I cut my locs off people were like how did your hair loc. I would tell them that my hair is not as soft as you think it is, it's pretty coarse.

Did you BC or transition?

I BC'd after having my hair loc'd.

What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?:

The thing that makes me love kinks, curls, and coils is that it is embracing your hair in it's natural state which a lot of people can not accept.

 Where can we find you on the web?

I can be found many places and here are some of them http://thediaryoffrankyj.blogspot.com, www.fortheaveragegirl.com, andwww.glamourina.com

You can follow my website twitter page at @4theaveragegirl

Anything EXTRA you want us to know?

I am all for natural kinks be it big curls, small curls, or close to no curls. EMBRACE YOUR HAIR! =)

ONE YEAR NATURAL and counting!

LADIES!!!!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

I am ONE YEAR NATURAL!!!!!!!!

*wooop woooop*

to celebrate I went and got my natural hair braided up into

a protective style.

I am so proud of myself, I have made it a long way.

See below for pictures of my protective style.

I know MANY of you will be proud!

Captured Curls: Jocelyn of CurlyNuGrowth

Hi Beauties!

I am excited to feature this next Capture Curls natural.

When I first started transitioning I watched her videos

and

admired her journey via YouTube!

Her blog was one of the first natural hair blogs I EVER VISITED.

Going to her blog a year ago made me want to start my own; so this next

natural hair sista' has been a huge natural hair influence to me since day one!

Please meet Jocelyn creator of the CurlyNuGrowth Blog.

 (4 months natural)

GHB- Tell us about you: 

CNG: I am a College graduate working in Corporate America in Information Technology.  In the Spring of 2011, I will be pursing my Masters of Science because I believe higher education is very important , especially for African Americans. Outside of school and work, I enjoy doing hair (of course), which is why I worked in a hair salon for about 8 years, and I love cooking! I also strive to stay active in the community and I volunteer with several organizations in my area. Aside from volunteering, I play Kickball and Flag Football and I watch movies  in my downtime. 

GHB- What do you use on your hair? Do you have a regimen?:

CNG: I use all natural products in my hair. As of lately, I use OyinHandmade Honey Wash Shampoo or the Grand Poo Bar, Oyinhandmade Honey Hemp Conditioner, and Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Milk (Leave In Conditioner). I also spray my hair with OyinHandmade Frank Juice throughout the week. 

(19 months natural)

GHB- What is your hair type?:

CNG: I have 4A edges, so they are tightly coiled and get dry easily. I have a patch of 3B in my crown of my head which is very loosely curled and almost straight at all times.  The rest of my hair is a 3C hair type and is very manageable both wet and dry. 

GHB- Wha twas the reaction you received when first going natural?: 

CNG: When I first went natural most people thought it looked great on me, but of course I had many people constantly tell me to relax my hair and that I would never stay natural. Yet, here I am 20 months and counting later….still natural & loving it!! 

 (20  months)

GHB- Did you transition or immediately BC?:

CNG: I transitioned and then then BC'd on my own, but I cut a bunch of patches in hair, so I had to get it evened out and I lost a lot of growth, which ultimately started my nature journey off with about 1 inch of hair.

GHB- What do you LOVE about your Natural Hair?:

CNG: I love the versatility and uniqueness of my natural hair! I also love how healthy and rich my hair is in its natural state!

 Blog: http://www.curlynugrowth.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/curlyNuGrowth/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/curlynugrowth

Revisiting Yes to Carrots Conditioner

YouTuber's and fellow Bloggers have been buzzing about the "Yes to" products.

I have tried the Yes to Carrots DC before and I tried the regular conditioner offered 

in the line.

I tried the products last year and wasn't impressed.

I kind of felt out of the loop because everyone was RAVING about how good 

Yes to Carrots was and ect.

Well recently I came across Yes to Cucumbers leave in and as you all know, I love it.

A local Rite Aide sells the "Yes to" line so I wanted to see if they had

any Yes to Cucumbers products in stock.

They didn't and I was very disappointed because I wanted to try the cucumber conditioner

that is the new rave in the natural hair community.

(I really wish I wasn't a product junkie, LOL)

I did see the carrots conditioner that I tried last year

and I decided to give it another shot.

This time around I LIKED IT!

I used it as a leave in which worked better for my hair.

I flat twisted my hair last night with the carrots conditioner and it gave my hair great slip!

When I woke up this AM and unraveled my twits my hair was SO SOFT and FLUFFY.

I was very impressed with the results.

I am also glad that I tried the conditioner again and that I found a way to make it work

for me.

Here are some pics of my hair today.

I tried to get some good texture shots so that you all could see the definition of my curls.

Tried the "Yes to" line?

What's your favorite product?

xoxo,

Alex

Captured Curls: Pilar Harris

Happy Monday everyone!

I hope everyone had a fun filled weekend.

I am starting this week's blog session with a Captured Curls feature.

A young lady named Pilar Harris emailed me over the weekend about being featured.

After I read her story I was very excited to get her on the blog 

so that everyone could read about her being a new natural sista'.

See her feature below, I am sure you will enjoy it.

1. Tell me about YOU:

I'm Pilar and I'm a 21 year old Pisces and a CA native. It seems writing is my passion and I've lent my talents to television networks and studios including MTV. Whether I'm writing, illustrating, cooking, or picking out clothes in the morning, I'm drawn to all things cozy, dazzling, classic, and feminine. I've traveled from Los Angeles to Amsterdam and dozens of places in between and I love sharing my experiences. I'm currently blogging from the eastern side of Germany, where I live with my loving BF and our pet cactus, Kiesha.

2. Tell me your hair care regimen (do you use heat, natural products, etc...)

My hair care regimen right now consists of cowashes and finger coils. I'm still in the TWA phase, so there's not much I can do besides maintain moisture. And what a struggle that is! I use Herbal Essences Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner, NO heat at all, and I seal with EVOO. Simplicity has been key for me thus far.

3. Tell me your texture and what works best on your hair type.

I am 4a to the core. My fine hair loves WATER and minimal styling so that's what I stick to. In the past, heat (in the form of flat irons and blow dryers) really sucked the life out of my hair so I avoid it at all costs. This means no blowouts or hooded dryers and I even wash my hair in lukewarm-cold water. 

4. Tell me the reaction you got when first going natural.

Roughly 2 years ago, I ditched the 12-inch sew in weaves for my APL natural kinks. The people around me were super supportive and I found that once I embraced my natural hair, I started to embrace other things about myself that I had tried hiding since... forever. As a working print model, I was sent on more castings because my hair brought on more versatility. And with all this, my self-confidence went through the roof. I took on projects and went places that I couldn't have gone before, all because of my inner 'upgrade'. 

5. Did you BC or transition, if so when or for how long?

After playing in my hair for 2 years and hopping on nearly EVERY hair care bandwagon, I realized that I had done a lot of damage. In fact, I never made it past APL! Things got really frustrating as I continued to try conditioners, shampoos, dc's, clay masks, oils, butters, and creams with no progress or improvement. This summer left my hair dry and brittle and so I decided to do the BC in mid August. I chose health over length and I haven't looked back since. 

6. What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?

My coily, fluffy hair has been the perfect, no-fail accessory to my life. I'm crazy about it.

7. Where can we find you on the web?

I'm blogging at just-add-honey.blogspot.com and tweeting at twitter.com/lovepilarlove

8. Anything EXTRA you want us to know?

I'm looking for a TWA grow-out buddy. Who's down?! 

Captured Curls: Shari

Everyone, meet Shari!

A beautiful young lady who JUST did her BIG CHOP!

Read her story below:

1.Tell me about YOU 

I am Shari. Most people never believe that I am 22 or that I am Dominican. My spanish is funny & my knowledge is true. I enjoy freelance writing and dissecting life. I am a movie buff and long time retail & hard working single woman. :)

2. Tell me your hair care regimen (do you use heat, natural products, ect...)

I loove Aussie products. I use Aussie Moist shampoo to wash and condition with Dove Damage Therapy; Intensive repair. My hair WAS SO DAMAGED. Once a week I used to deep condition with 3 minute Aussie deep conditioner. I towel dry and use zero frizz corrective hair serum. My hair curls very easily so that serum keep everything under major control. I no longer use blow drier or flat iron because I recently cut my hair.

3.  Tell me your texture and what works best on your hair type

I am apparently 4B I believe. Give me another 9 months to decide the rest (LOL)

4. Tell me the reaction you got when first going natural

Everyone is still in shock and I love their reactions. It was a break through for me because I HATED my hair. It just wasn't me anymore. I say women are more receptive to the cut and men are still wondering where my hair is. I've heard some bad and good comments but it definitely hasnt bothered me in anyway.

5. Did you BC or transition, if so when or for how long?

I did the BIG CHOP 4 days ago and I am in love. I feel even more beautiful and my face stands out. 

6. What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?

I am currently enjoying my baby curls. I put my fingers through my hair everydayyy! :)

9. Where can we find you on the web?

twitter.com/SundayBurger

latesundaymorning.tumblr.com

I am so happy that Shari is a new natural sista'!

Anyone have any helpful tips, tricks and/or advice to give Shari as she embarks on this

new journey?

If so, leave comments below.

Im sure she would LOVE to see the what you have to say.