Please excuse the terrible quality, etc. but I just don't have the time or energy to upload pics from my camera.

This is a picture of me from today. I've now been natural for 11 weeks!

My hair is definitely growing and I think I'm finally getting the hang of this! I got discouraged for a little minute because I felt like my hair wasn't growing that fast...and then I picked it out and I have quite the TWA!

Recent purchases (from Wholefoods) :

• avacado oil- promotes softness and shine
• peppermint essential oil- adds a little tingle for deep conditioners
• vegetable glycerine- natural "humectant" (helps draw moisture from the air)

As far as my routine: I'm trying not to wash everyday. Right now I'm focused on retaining moisture. When I co-wash I try to leave a little conditioner in and then put avacado oil in. (Avacado oil is my new fave. It's lighter than EVOO and makes my hair really soft.) Still not really using gel or anything extra. When I don't wake and wash I just use a spritz I made. The spritz has glycerin (the jury is still out, give me another week), avacado and olive oils, conditioner, and of course water. I spritz a few times a day just because I can. :)

I need a new deep conditioner. The cholesterol I was using just doesn't give me what I need. Even after mixing it with oil. It makes my hair feel coated and dry. I had a tragic incident with a hot oil treatment so I won't be trying that again for a while. In case you're wondering, let's just say I used to much oil and it was still dripping even after I washed it out. Was my hair shiny and soft afterwards? Yes. Was it embarrassing to sit at work with oil runnning down my face? YES!

On my Wholefoods wish list:

• honey
• shea butter
• essential oil for scent (lavendar or grapefruit)

Nappy trails...

Lately I've been getting complements about how happy I seem and someone even told me that I'm always smiling...I'm not ALWAYS happier but I have come to terms with some things. I've had 3 "breakthroughs" that I'd like to share:

1) Don't say anything at all if you can't say anything nice.

I'm consciously trying not to talk about every single person who walks past me. It's not that easy and I've been failing miserably. But on that same note, I'm trying not to complain and say negative things about things that I either can't change or haven't already changed.

2) It's never as bad as it seems- don't be so dramatic.

I'm slowly learning this. I'm not dramatic but I linger on things for a long time. I'm trying to learn to laugh at myself. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES. I called a professor by the wrong name miltiple times and eventually realized that it's probably not the first time it's happened and it will happen again. This lesson helps with social situations. I also like to say that things could alwas be worse. Morbid but true.

3) FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!

By fake it till you make it I mean if you feel like you're lacking some trait, act like you have it until it comes naturally. I'm not known to have confidence and self-esteem, etc. But what I've decided to do is accept who I am and work with that. I wake up in the morning and work out. I get dressed and I look in the mirror and tell myself the good things I see. I always wear perfume because it's like spray on confidence. It's corny but true. I put on clothes that I like and that flatter me and I walk around like it's the best outfit I've ever put on. I may not believe it but if I don't figure out how to love myself then how do I expect someone else to?

Of course all the blogs have already covered this but I just love Chrisette Michele's new look! I love her music and I love her even more now because she had the CONFIDENCE and CONVICTION to BC in front of the world.

**As you can see I got this image from http://www.sopressed.com. Follow Kyle (from BET's College Hill) on twitter: @ThatDamnKwash**

While I was at home I decided to take advantage of some luxuries that I don't have in a dorm room. I produced a little concoction for my hair and I think it worked pretty well.

Ingredients (in no particular order):

1. 1 whole egg
2. 1 tbsp honey
3. 2 tbsp EVOO
4. 1/2 ripe banana

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and mix with a blender to a smooth consistency. This could probably mix well without a blender but I've heard stories about banana chunks getting stuck in hair. I put on a shower cap and walked around the house for about 45 minutes.

This was spontaneous so I put it in my dry hair. I think I would try this on freshly shampooed hair for better results. I would also use my heat cap to make it more penetrating.

I also got a trim the same day but I would say that my hair was definitely shinier, softer, and my curls were more defined, springier. I'm going to try this again but probably not until I go home again for summer in a few weeks. I just don't have anywhere to store those perishable ingredients.

OMG! I am soooo sorry. I can't believe it's been almost a full month since I last posted. I've just been so busy with school and work and just life in general. (I shouldn't even be doing this right now). I'll probably miss the exact date of my nappiversary later this week so I'll be brief.

A few days ago I got a trim. I went home and my parents had alot to say about my hair (more on that in a later post). I knew I needed a trim and a lining so I went to my friend's dad, who is a licensed and seasoned barber. I told him that I just need a trim and he "shaped" it for me. He said it would look more "feminine." First impression: I hated it. It looked like a haircut from the 80's. Like a hightop fade or something. He cut all my favorite coils off! The ones on the side, the ones on the back. They were so cute! I'll post pics later but slowly it's growing on me.

I just wanted him to make it more even and instead I lost control of the situation. I am a big advocate of trims though. I will admit that although I don't like the shape of my hair, I do love the coils that seem to be more springy and defined. It's also more shiny and softer. It's because some of the skeleton hair got trimmed away. I still don't know the scientific name but it does exist.

My whole "trim" experience made me think. I did the BC because I wanted more control of how to style and care for my hair. But I still managed to do something that I did so much when I had a relaxer: lose control of my hair in the chair. How many times have we gone to the hairdresser and come out with something we weren't looking for simply because we allowed the person behind us to do what they thought was best. I can't do it anymore. I'm taking a stand. My hair will grow out but from now on, I'm going to say what I want and I won't waver on it.

....Nappy Trails to you.