9 Styles for Week-Old Braids *Updated*

I got this #9 style the day before I took out these braids! I couldn't let it go without sharing it with you all. It's now one of my favourites. I hope you enjoy this updated post!

As may know by now, my go to protective styles are braids, be it Senegalese Twists, Crotchet Braids or Box Braids.The maximum amount of time I'll keep them in is 5 weeks, mainly because I can't keep a neat hairstyle for a number of reasons. This time around, My hair was already "roughed up" by 2 weeks because I was sabotaging the style so I could pull the braids out to see and deal with my natural hair. My girlfriend and bf talked me out of it and I've kept the braids in ever since it was done (re-twisting some braids once a week after). 

The styles below are some styles I picked up and are presently doing with my four-week-old what I call my worn out braids. These are great for when the middle or inner top part of the braids start to frizz out. And to top it off, these styles can be done in a matter of minutes! 

Here goes:

1. The Good Ole Braided Bun

Read more →

Crotchet Braids! - Hair Update No. III

Hi there!

After slightly stressing and sulking around the setback I had, I have tried to shake the feeling and channel a little more positive energy my way. What's past is past and the damage (literally) has already been done. 

To help with shaking the "bad feels" I did my hair in Crotchet Braids..and I absolutely LOVE it. I'm surprised I don't have a "crick neck" due to how (Jamaican talk lol) I've been whipping and flashing this hair! I love it and I'm so glad I got it done. Cheered me right up!

So without further ado, here are some pictures I took of the style yesterday (L) and today (R):

               

I had this installed last Wednesday using Marley hair and did an ACV 1:1 rinse of the hair before putting it in (my hair itches like CRAZY when I put in extensions so this alleviates the itching a bit). I was grateful that the person who put this in for me could actually catch the natural hair parts of which the relaxed ends were broken off and all in all it turned out well. 

Moisturising my Crotchet Braids

To not venture into setback territory, I moisturise with my braid spray every night and try to get the roots as well as the ends of the braids so nowhere is lacking moisture. My braid spray is basically a concoction of what I usually use for my leave-in when I wash my hair. 

Ingredients are: 

- Water

- Tresemme Moisture RIch Conditioner (or any conditioner I have on hand at the time)

- Coconut oil

- Glycerin

- Tea tree oil (if I have it on hand)

I put all of the above in a spray bottle with a small nozzle (so it "mists" the hair and not overload my head with the product), give it a good shake, go through braid by braid and spray the mix on the braid. This hair is too big and WILD for any satin bonnet* I have so I used a yard or so of satin fabric I had (my girlfriend sews) and draped it over my pillows to sleep on. This way, my edges all around and any braid that comes in contact with the pillows while I sleep are taken care of.

My satin fabric *rawr*

* These cheap "satin" bonnets are trash to me as they do nothing for my hair and I'll wake up with coarser hair than I went to bed with. It really is best if you just go to the fabric store, buy a yard of satin fabric and drape it over your pillows. Who knows, you might have left over fabric for a (real) satin scarf!

I'll try to keep this style in for about 3-4 weeks but only my scalp knows the answer to that and the daily moisturising I do are loosening the braids where the breakage occurred plus I haven't washed it yet so hopefully I can go back for those sections to be redone, if possible. But after this is done, I'm putting them right back in..probably with a different hair type. I think this will be my go to hair style for the rest of the year! I love it!

Thanks for stopping by.

Lata!

Read more →

An Official Setback. SET ALL DI WAY BACK.

A couple of days ago I drafted this post and decided to shelf if because it was rife with disappointment and a great deal of sadness. I have since calmed down and realised that 1) things happen and 2) it was a lesson which I know I will learn from because I have analyzed it and I have a clearer understanding as to why and how this setback happened.

How it started

When I was 15 weeks post, I decided it was time to end the relaxer stretch because I was having a really hard time dealing with my hair and I noticed I was seeing split ends. I was following the regular HHJ routine of doing a protein treatment and incorporated hair mayonnaise into my wash routine and deep conditioned after.  After the wash (without thinking about length checks or documenting it via blog), I trimmed about 1 - 1 1/2 inches from my hair all around going section by section. I styled my hair with my go-to relaxer stretch style perm rods. 

I wore the style out for the week and by the weekend thereafter I wanted to try braids one last time before swearing it off completely as I have terrible itching when I wear braids. Before installing the braids, I figured if I'm relaxing my hair after I take the braids out, then another protein treatment would be needed to strengthen my hair before that relaxer. I did another protein treatment that weekend. I put the braids in, took them out (they weren't done properly to me) and re-installed the braids. On Monday last I was randomly running my fingers through my hair (through the canerows - they're Crotchet Braids) and realised there were PATCHES OF HAIR WHERE I ONLY FELT MY NATURAL HAIR. My relaxed hair had COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF in about 3 or 4 sections. As in, there was no relaxed hair there, only new growth. Now, since they're in canerows I kinda sorta freaked out:

Running my fingers through the cornrows in the crotchet braids.. Only to find about 3 or 4 small spots of solely natural hair.
— Gibbie (@GibbieGibbz) March 25, 2014

Anuh me cut it enuh. ANUH ME CUT IT. "New growth" just a fralik. It couldn't ketch inna di braids.. So so short hair
— Gibbie (@GibbieGibbz) March 25, 2014

I mean shoulder length hair isn't a big deal to most but I (was?) am there dammit!
— Gibbie (@GibbieGibbz) March 25, 2014

I lost it. Then I went on YouTube and searched for breakage and how often it occurs and left comments under videos of people I thought who knew my struggle . I expected it somewhat but I wasn't expecting this. I was ashamed and thoughts of cutting all my hair came over me. I haven't taken any pictures. I was (am?) too embarrassed. My friend who's almost bald-headed told me to cut it off (of course she would). I was beyond hurt. 

Over the past couple of days since this week's "realisation", I took down the braids, saw it wasn't so severe, did a Co-wash and oil rinse, re-installed he braids (carefully - and very loose around the sections) and I have calmed down since then.

From this setback I have learned the following so far:

1. My hair is protein-sensitive
2. Slacking off on Moisturising & Sealing after a protein treatment is a HUGE no-no
3. My new-growth is about 1 inch in the "patched" sections lol
4. My hair grows a little more than 1/4" per month in most parts of my hair and 1/2" in others.
5. Moisturise. Moisturise. MOISTURISE.
6. My natural hair loves the water but my relaxed hair is easily waterlogged which makes it a little more difficult to detangle. I'm going to start experimenting with pre-pooing with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a thicker oil. I'll be saturating or covering my hair with it, leaving it in for 30 minutes to an hour and then try detangling in sections.

Even if I wanted to relax my hair now, I wouldn't. I wouldn't chance a protein-breaking bond service on this "in-treatment and recovering" hair. For now, I'll be just using my homemade braid spray on my hair and my castor oil on my scalp. I also think I'll be doing that Co-wash & oil rinse technique more often as as well. I'm nurturing my hair back to health and I hope to see the back of this setback.

I have plans to do something else with my hair that may help it significantly. 

Stay tuned for the next post!

Read more →

Braided Up! - Hair Update No. I

I've been feeling overwhelmed by my new growth of late (currently 14 weeks post) and didn't want to deal with doing anything with it. I also was not ready to relax my hair..so I got..you guessed it, braids :). I got Senegalese Twists or what we Jamaicans call "rope twists". I did it in big sections and it runs down mid-back. Here are some pictures:

 

When my hair is braided I tend to touch up my edges for a more "clean" look but I'm trying stay strong and move away from that with the help of my trusty Ecostyler gel.

I hope to keep this in for at least 3 weeks but my past experience with braids is by mid-week of it being done, it itches like crazy or starts to look furry. To combat this, I used ACV to remove the alkaline base off the braids and do ACV rinses once per week and tie my hair down with a satin scarf and bonnet. I'll try my best but I have a low-key feeling I'll be unconsciously tapping my head top stop the itching (._. ).

I like it and I LOVE the fact that I won't have to be doing much to my hair while this style is in. I'll do another post on what I'll be using as braid spray to moisturize my hair and wash day challenges (if any) while this style is in.

Lata!

Read more →